days ago, visited
her, said as I drew napkin from face, "Ach Minheer L., het min. dan
vir mij vergeet?" (O, Mr. L., have you then forgotten me?); she was
delirious most of day, but when I spoke to her she was quite
conscious. And how inwardly thankful when I prayed with her; poor
mother; her days on earth are numbered; both lungs gone.

Little babe, Van Huyssteen, also dead this morning (mother shot on
their flight by English; babe pined away out of sheer lack of
nourishment).

* * * * *

Wednesday, October 16.--Getting lazy with diary; mindful of old Mark
Twain.

Hear woman's voice calling "Ambulance! Ambulance! Ambulance! in 172
moet een meisje weggedra wordt" (Ambulance! in 172 a little girl has
to be removed). Here go the bearers!

172 is just thirty yards from 177, where I take meals, and next to
171 old Mrs. Van Straten, whom I regularly visit, and yet I know
absolutely nothing of this girl's sickness nor her death till this
very minute. Enough to make one discouraged.

Of Monday's work can't remember much except that I found the "summum"
of misery and distress in 678, Pelser's; whole family down measles;
poverty; filth; baby ill at breast (died yesterday, buried this
afternoon); sent food, but made her promise faithfully that children
would be washed to-day.

What horrible thing is dirt! Surely one of greatest gifts is to be
able to appreciate the "clean."

Funerals again Monday; "Zalig zijn de dooden die in den Heere
sterven" (Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord); so many children
again.

Visit old Mr. Du Toit on way home.

Now am I positively dead![66] "Mijnheer, min. moet mij tog een ding
beloove; om als de oorlog verbij is, die preek van min. te laat druk
enz enz, Om te doen gedenken" (Sir, you must promise me one thing, to
publish your sermon on 'To bring to remembrance' when the war is
over).

"Kan jij nou meer!"[67] Really now, after all there is nothing like a
good, long, square ear-to-ear grin in this world!

Shall I deny, though, that there is just a wee drop of cheer and
comfort, huge as the joke is!

Yesterday fellow who knocked down doctor returned; fined L5; and
since Saturday no one to do his lines[68].

Found 597 very bad; young girl (Kruger); wants to die.

245, Mrs. Du Preez; great pain; died last night, buried this
afternoon.

Two little children remain behind; saddening.

Buried six this afternoon; "Ik ben verstomd, ik deed mynen mo