IT WAS during the Civil War. After the terrible battle of Pittsburgh Landing, we were taking the wounded down the Tennessee River to the hospital. I said to some Christian workers who were with me: “We must not let a man die on this boat without telling him of Christ and heaven.”
We passed along from one to another giving them water, and tried to tell them of the water of life which Jesus gives to thirsty souls who come to Him in faith. I came to one fine looking young fellow and spoke to him, but he did not answer. I went to the doctor and said, “Doctor, do you think that man will recover?”
“No,” he replied. “He lost so much blood before we got him off the field that he fainted while we were amputating his leg. He will never recover.”
“I can’t find out his name, and it seems a pity to let him die without knowing who he is. Don’t you think we can bring him to?”
“You may give him a little of this cordial,” said the doctor; “that will revive him if anything will.”
I sat down beside him and gave him some every now and then. When I was waiting, I said to a man nearby, “Do you know this man?”
“Oh yes; that’s my chum.”
“Has he a father and mother ling?”
“He has a widowed mother.”
“Has he any brothers and sisters?” “Two sisters; but he is the only son.”
“What is his name?”
“William Clark.”
I said to myself that I couldn’t let him die without getting a message for that mother. Presently he opened his eyes and I said: “William, do you know where you are?”
He looked around a little dazed, and then said, “Oh yes; I am on my way home to Mother.”
“Yes, you are on your way home,” I said; “but the doctor says you won’t reach your earthly home. I thought I’d like to ask you if you had any message for your mother.”
His face lighted up with a radiance not of this world, as he said: “Oh yes; tell my mother that I died trusting in Jesus!”
It was one of the sweetest things I ever heard in my life! Presently I said: “Anything else, William?”
With a beautiful smile he said, “Tell my mother and sisters to be sure to meet me in heaven"; and he closed his eyes. In a few hours his spirit had gone to be with the Lord. D.L.M.
ML-09/08/1963