I do not ask you to forget me--that would
be worse than death, but I ask you to try to be happy and to make
others happy as the years pass on. This bloody war will come to an
end, will become a memory, and those who perish hope to be
remembered; but I do not wish my memory to hang like a cloud over
the happy days of peace. I close, my darling, in hope, not fear--
hope for you, hope for me, whatever may happen to-day or on coming
days of strife. It only remains for me to do my duty. I trust that
you will also do yours, which may be even harder. Do not give way
to despairing grief if I cannot come back to you in this world.
Let your faith in God and hope of a future life inspire and
strengthen you in your battles, which may require more courage and
unselfishness than mine.
"Yours, either in life or death, ALBERT NICHOL."
He made another copy of this letter, put both in envelopes, and
addressed them, then sought two men of his company who came from
his native village. They were awake now and boiling their coffee.
The officer and the privates had grown up as boys together with
little difference of social standing in the democratic town.
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