e Scotch cart and
brought over some 1,000 bricks and stones for foundation; good
beginning to-day; now things will go swimmingly if weather remains
fine.

Unbearably hot to-day; tent untenable; thankful house in course of
erection.

Old story again; supply boards for coffins stopped, and now there is
the pitiful cry of those who seek wood to make coffins for departed
dear ones.

Yesterday old Mr. Duvenhagen came in distress to me; begged from
Superintendent, and got him two little boxes[58].

This morning had to tramp round to get hold of few boxes, for I
promised Lenie's mother I would provide wood. One does make very rash
promises sometimes--but anything to comfort stricken heart of
lonesome mother.

That Mrs. Van der Berg has now lost her three children; her husband
sits in Bloemfontein Refugee Camp. This to me so inexplicable, so
unreasonable, so cruel. Why cannot husband and wife be allowed to go
in same camp?

Well, I (next to) stole two nice planks in store tent, and what with
empty condensed milk box and my box which I used as chair, able to
give quite small fortune in wood for Lenie's coffin.

Buried her and Mita Duvenhagen (both 14) this afternoon; also two
small children; "Laat de kinderen tot mij komen en verhindert ze niet
want derzulken is het Koninkrijk Gods" (Suffer the little children to
come unto Me, and forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of
Heaven).

Mita's grave away other end of cemetery (next her brother's), and so
I went and spoke few words at her grave too; sang "Voor eeuwig met
den Heere" (For ever with the Lord).

Just before funerals went to see Lena Steyn; very low; "Zien,
minheer, nou, hoe waar dit was wat zij geze het" (Do you see now,
sir, how true her words were?). She always persisted in saying that
she was going to die; shall write more of her on another occasion. We
prayed at bedside and committed her into God's keeping, Psalm 23; but
she was unconscious, I think, although her eyes wandered from mother
to me.

The procession had started already when I had still to hear wail of
old man of 76, "Ach, minheer, waar zal ik tog planke krij; mij vrouw
is dood, en ik kan nerens kiste krij nie" (O, sir, where can I get
boards; my wife is dead, and I can't get wood anywhere?).

Last night carried out some papers in my box I use as chair and burnt
them outside. Soon man stood next to me, "Minheer, zal ik dan nie
daardie kisje kan krij nie? Onze ou baby is dood, en ik kan ne