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124

HEALTH OF THE NURSING STAFF.

Many of the ladies and nurses also attended to accompany his widow, whose wish it was to be present.

During life Dr. Thompson had often expressed a wish to be buried beneath a tree, and in sight of a beautiful view. There was but one tree in the burying-ground; under that they dug his grave, while all around lay spread one of the most beautiful scenes one could imagine.

During the whole summer only one case of serious illness occurred amongst our party. Miss Flay for many weeks ill with dysentery. She was attended by Dr. Guy, and to his extreme attention and skill, under God's blessing, she owed her recovery. After a time she resumed her work. was a great deal of sickness amongst us, though not of a serious character, but almost all suffered from the heat extremely.

There

In our illnesses we were attended only by the army surgeons, and they were kind

KINDNESS OF THE ARMY SURGEONS. 125

beyond measure. About this time, to our great regret, Dr. Temple joined the Turkish Contingent; there was great mourning among

his patients at his departure, for he was one of the kindest as well as the most skilful of the surgeons.

CHAPTER VIII.

Miss Stanley's interview with Her Majesty, Queen Victoria-The Royal gifts-The Queen's letter-The Illustrated London News-Division of the Royal gifts -Chess, dominoes, and draughts-Frequent fires in Constantinople-An alarm of fire-Fears dispelledThe palace of the Sultan's sister-Swift destruction -A magnificent spectacle-Establishment of an hospital library-Variety of the book gifts-Bibles and Prayer-books.

ONE day we received a letter from Miss Stanley, with an account of an interview she had had with the Queen, who sent for her and inquired with the deepest interest into the details of our work, and wished to know what more she could send out to contribute to the comfort of the sick and to assure them of her continual sympathy. The interview lasted near an hour, and at its close her Ma

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jesty expressed her satisfaction at what she had heard, and her thanks for the service rendered. Miss Stanley also received the thanks of Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent on a subsequent occasion.

She transmitted the royal thanks to us, feeling, as she said, she had only received them as the representative of all who had done the work.

In the royal gifts which came out a short time afterwards, we recognised the articles which Miss Stanley had named in answer to her Majesty's inquiries. The pleasure these gifts of her Majesty gave was immense; they consisted of a large quantity of raspberry jam, treacle, tamarinds, and pickles. Also chess, dominoes, and draughts.

The gifts were valuable in themselves, but how much more so the remembrance of the

thoughtful sympathy that had sent them

out.

"Only to think of our Queen thinking of

128

THE QUEEN'S LETTER.

such things for the like of us," said the patients.

But they had already grown familiar with the knowledge that the sufferings of the soldiers in camp and hospital were no less remembered in the palace than in their humble homes.

In all the wards was posted upon the walls the beautiful letter written by Queen Victoria to Mr. Sidney Herbert in the month of December 1854, and which caused such a thrill of gratitude and delight among the soldiers.

The Illustrated London News, which were distributed among them, had shown them how their Queen "visited the sick." They saw her passing through hospital wards and speaking gentle words to the sufferers there. They heard of her warm interest in all they did or suffered, and that no hand but her own was allowed to decorate their comrades who had returned home.

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