o4'b> Ten Years of my Life, 



We were too busy to pay much attention to the sound of 

 shells passing over our house, for Professor Busch said it 

 would be time enough to think of our security when a shell 

 should strike the roof, which, hovvever, fortunately did not hap- 

 pen. The things going on ojitside were interesting enough to 

 attract my curiosity, and whenever I had a moment to spare, 

 wanting some fresli air, I went outside to see how the battle 

 was going on. This was, however, a rather dangerous curi- 

 osity, which cost much to the division pastor, Rev. Mr. Gross, 

 from Coblentz. He had attended to his merciful duty, com- 

 forting some dying, and went to the corner of the house to take 

 some air, when he was struck by a bullet and rather severely 

 wounded. 



The scene was a most lively one, for every moment wounded 

 arrived, or officers of the staff running with messages to different 

 places, stopping for a moment at our house and accepting 

 gratefully some much-needed refreshment. 



Our house became soon too full, and many poor wounded 

 had to remain for hours outside in the bitter cold, until rough 

 peasant carts arrived to carry them to the hospital in Amiens, 

 where Miss Runkel had remained. Professor Busch and all 

 of us felt the greatest pity, and were quite distressed when we 

 saw the poor amputated carried like sheep in these rough vehi- 

 cles, in which they suffered immensely on their long drive to 

 Amiens, which was more than ten English miles off. 



I regretted much the want of such ambulances as we had in 

 America, and which were so immensely useful. At some other 

 part of this work I have spoken about them ^nd other Ameri- 

 can sanitary arrangements, to which I refer. 



Querriere was taken by our troops, and darkness ended the 

 battle, but not our work ; but much could not be done by the 

 light of the candles which we found a:nongst thd provisions 

 brought by these kind, thoughtful English people. We were, 

 hovvever, utterly exhausted ; wrapt up in our work, we did not 

 feel that we were hungry and thirsty ; but now nature would 

 have its due. A tired and hungry doctor from some other sta- 

 tion dropped in, and so did several officers ; we were about a 

 dozen persons in the little room. 



I rinsed the kettle I had used, and with condensed milk I 

 made some splendid chocolate. The amputation table was 

 superficially wiped with straw; and sitting and standing around 



