Private W. F.―, of the Buffs, writes the following letter to me: —
“Dear Sir, — I write these few lines to you to ask you to do me a kindness by sending me out a Testament, as, I have just found one of your post cards. The Testament I had saved my life. A piece of shrapnel went through my pocket on the right side, and went through my fag-tin and the Testament which I had in my pocket. The Testament was given me by the Rev. Mr. Reed at Shoreham Camp in September, 1914, when I first enlisted in the forces. I kept it all the time until. I got wounded at Laos, April 19th, and I am still keeping it for a keepsake at home in London, and if you would like to see it, I would write and tell my wife to forward it on. When I go out to France on Wednesday, September 19th for the third time, I am leaving seven little children behind, so I am asking my heavenly Father to give me a safe return again. I hope the war will soon finish as I was out before for twenty-one months from August 1915 to April 1917, so I think I have had enough, but I have volunteered so as to keep with some of the boys, as I should have liked to have had a Christmas at home, after having spent the last two out there, but I shall still go out with a good heart, hope for the best, and a safe return. Please excuse me writing but I should like a New Testament. So all at present from your affectionate friend. — Pte. W. F—.”
“Dear Sir, ―I am keeping your postcard wherever I go, wail I get the Testament—then I will forward the postcard with a letter. I have been wounded three times, January 19th 1916, at Ypres; August 18th 1916, at the Somme; April 19th 1917, at Loos.”
The post card came back with “Thanks” upon it, telling me the testament had been received. I wrote said how glad I should be to see the tin and testament, then came the following letter;
Dear Sir, ―I write these few lines to you thanking you very much for the testament which I received safe, and I will take the greatest care of it while I am out here. I have sent your postcards on to a few of the other boys in the lines, and I think they will write, for a testament I am still going on alright. I have written to the ‘Mrs’ to send the things on to you hoping you will take great care of them. Thanking you for the testament, your affectionate friend W. F.
A few days after, the wife of Private W. F. ―sent me the fag-tin and the testament. On examining them one could see what a wonderful escape he had had. The shrapnel bullet had gone clean through the tin and the testament; The testament was cut right through at the lower third, and the bullet was only stopped at the cover―every page was cut! Our friends life was absolutely saved by the testament―under God. I had the photo taken for December Message from God, being sure my soldier friends would like to see how mercifully God had preserved their comrade. When I returned the fag-tin and Testament to the wife she replied that she was glad to get the “souvenir,” as her husband’s life was saved by it, and then she adds, “May he also be spared again to return to his little family of seven and me. — M. F.
“This is the story of one man’s preservation. Thank God the angel of the Lord delivers thousands, and the precious Word of God is being used, by God to bring tens of thousands to Himself.