358 Ten Years 0/ my Life, 



by the Prefect fetched us from our house. Having convinced 

 myself first that all my orders had been executed, I prepared 

 myself the lunch. I, with two assistants, cut bread for all the 

 five hundred, buttered it, and- put on it some meat or jam. 

 Before I left for my ov/n dinner I went to the kitchen, super- 

 intended the cooking and tasted the dinner for my wound. d, 

 giving my orders for special cases. 



After dinner, when the w unded had had their c fi I 

 took with me a good supply of cigars from the stores Oi the 

 knights, and went through the different wards distributing the 

 cigars myself, not trusting always the attendants, who coveted 

 this rnuch desired article, which commenced to get scarce. 

 On this occasion I spoke to the men, inquiring what they had 

 had for lunch and dinner, thus making sure that my orders 

 had been carried out properly. Then I superintended the 

 preparations for supper, and having made my arrangements, 

 for next day, I went home, mostly dead beat. If I had much 

 work and trouble I at least had the satisfaction that the com- 

 missary department ot the hospital was in excellent order, and 

 that everything went on like clock-work. 



Miss Runkel attended, as I mentioned before, to the 

 wounded officers. When she had ascertained from me all that 

 was to be had next day lor dinner, she went with this mc-u 

 to the officers to hear wha each of them might prefer, and 

 communicated it to me. 



Thus the hospital was carried on, from the 20th of January 

 until the loth of February when I left for Germany. At that 

 time the r 'stice had been concluded, and my brother-in-law 

 wished to ^o home to look after his family and his private 

 affairs, and his eldest son Leopold was .^Iso to take leave of 

 absence. They were of opinion that I could not well stay 

 alone behind. 



The doctor wished Miss Runkel t ) remain at least, promis- 

 ing to see her home safely after peace was concluded ; but 

 having become much attached to me, and her family not wish- 

 ing her to remain alone with the army, she consented to return 

 and to stay with me as my friend and -companion. 



With this my activity in the war ended. I did my duty to 

 the best of my ability, and if I may trust to the expressions of 

 thanks in many letters which I received, I am justified in 

 believing that my services were of some avail. 



