His Dying Counsel

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 October 1915, Page 3

His Dying Counsel

On the battlefield of Russian Poland recently the German ambulance oorps found a dead Austrian soldier clutching in his hand a pathetic letter which he had written evidently just before his regiment marched forth to the conflict that morning. "With it was also liis last will and testament. The fallen soldier was Johann Seidel, and his letter, printed in the "fremdonblatt," and addressed "To my dear sons," follows:—"In a few hours 1 6hall march with my company into the field. i hope that with God's help 1 will be able to return to you and your good mother. Yet the thought conies to me that I may never return. Therefore, 1 write to you now a few words which I trust you will cherish and remember.

"My dear sons! You have always given me more pleasure than pain. I have often been strict with youi, but it ■was only for your own good, a 6 I -wanted to train you to Tie men of honour who would perhaps amount to something in the world. In this I know that your beloved niolher, the best mother that any boys overbad, will follow in my footsteps should God will that I die for my country.

"Mother, however, is not as strong physically as I am. Therefore, 1 bog you- do not make things hard for her. On the contrary, in these terrible times you must pull yourselves together and do everything you can to make life easier for her. Study and work, »o that you will be enabled to help your mother along the rough path and never leave her side until death claim her.