By:
Edited by Heyman Wreford
TWO SAILORS were standing side by side on board one of our men-of-war. A shell came and killed one, and the other was left unhurt, but his jersey was stripped clean off him. I wonder if he has thanked God for saving his life.
A British soldier who had been wounded was returning from the trenches to the base hospital for treatment when he was met by a German soldier who, seeing him alone, ran to him and thrust his bayonet through his chest. After he had done it, he realized that he had attacked a wounded man who was unarmed. He expressed deep sorrow at his deed, and carried the wounded man himself to the hospital. Let us hope they will both meet in heaven.
A British Soldier Comforting a Dying German
This beautiful picture which I saw in the “Sunday at Home” for April rivetted my attention. It depicts a scene on a battlefield. Far away from his home, the German soldier lies dying. In his home, maybe, his wife is talking to his little Karl, or Gretchen, about their father far away — the father they will see no more on earth. Beside the dying German we see a British soldier, holding his hand, and gazing upon his face with the tender solicitude of a woman. What has brought them thus together? The useless rifles lie upon the ground, and they are friends instead of foes. Hark! the British soldier speaks, seeing a look of great pain pass over the face of the dying man: “Can I do anything for you?” The answer from the feeble lips comes tremblingly, “Nothing, unless you would be so good as to hold my hand until all is over.” The Tommy said, “I gave him my hand, and stayed to the end. It seemed to comfort that poor chap a lot.”
We only hope he was able to speak of the Saviour to him. What are we doing for these dying men on the battlefields, of the world today? Are we helping to send them the Word of God, that can take the sting from death, and tell them of a heaven where death never enters, and of scenes “where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest?” God press our responsibilities to our fellow men upon us more and more.
A Colonel writes to us saying, “My son was in the Neuve Chapelle fight. He had just given his orders to his Lieutenant and Sergeants when a shell reached the battery, killed the Lieutenant and wounded three Sergeants. We cannot help being anxious for our dear ones, but what a difference it makes when we know they are in Christ.”