A Dying Soldier

Lines by Corporal W. A. Gardner, 1st Royal Montreal Regiment, Canadian Contingent: ―
A soldier lay on the battlefield: ―
As he heard the cannons roar,
He thought of his loved ones far away,
And he thought of that golden shore.
He looked at his wounded comrades,
As here and there they lay,
And, as he closed his eyes in peace,
These words they heard him say:
“The battle now is over,
And the victory is won;
I am going home to Jesus,
Who loves us every one.
I am far away from the homestead,
Alone in a foreign land;
I have heard the voice of my Saviour,
I have felt the touch of His hand.
“Put on the gospel armor;
Leave every flag unfurled;
Tell of the love of Jesus, ―
Tell it to all the world.
Tell them there is a mansion
Prepared for us on high; ―
I hear the angels calling,
I wish you all GOODBYE.”
These words they tell the story
Of a soldier’s love for God,
Who fought for King and Empire,
Now underneath the sod.
His soul is safe in heaven,
The Master called him home,
There are flowers forever blooming
From the seed that he has sown.
Incidents of the War
“Maybe I am on the road to hell; that’s my business.” So wrote a private to me a little while ago. It may be his business, but it is our business also. If I saw a blind man going towards a precipice, would it not be my business to warn him? If I saw a man sleeping on a railway track, and I knew an express train was coming, would it not be my business to wake him up and see him into a place of safety? If I see a sinner going to hell, it is my business to get him, if I can, to flee from the wrath to come. So I ask my readers to pray for this dear fellow, that he may be saved. If he is blind, God can give him sight. If he is asleep in the track of God’s judgments, God can wake him up.