第82部分(第1/7 页)

boiled　Spanish　onions　before　he　went　to　rest；　and　it　was　Wright’s　business　to　see　that　those　onions　were　there。　One　unlucky　night；　however；　after　a　particularly　exhausting　meeting　they　arrived　at　the　hotel；　where　all　the　attendants　had　gone　to　bed；　to　find　two　very　massive　onions　reposing　on　the　plate　as　usual；　but　just　as　they　had　left；　not　the　saucepan；　but　their　mother　earth！

Of　the　row　that　ensued　the　captain　spoke　to　me　in　the　hushed　voice　of　awe。31

30　General　Booth　said　to　me　—　more　than　once：　“Ah！　but　you　would　look　grand　in　my　uniform。”　Whereto　I　would　reply　quite　truly　that　I　was　not　fit　to　wear　that　wedding　garment；　or　words　to　that　effect。　—　H。　R。　H。

The　old　General　wrote　as　follows　about　my　book；　“Regeneration。”　The　letter　is　a　very　good　specimen　of　his　fine；　bold　handwriting；　although　at　that　time　his　sight　was　already　feeble。

International　Headquarters；

London；　E。C。：　December　10；　1910。

My　dear　Rider　Haggard；　—　I　have　just　read　“Regeneration。”　It　is　admirable。　You　have　not　only　seen　into　the　character　and　purpose　of　the　work　we　are　trying　to　do；　with　the　insight　of　a　true　genius；　but　with　the　sympathy　of　a　big　and　generous　soul。　From　my　heart　I　thank　you。

May　the　blessing　of　the　living　God　rest　upon　you；　and　on　Mrs。　Haggard　and　on　your　daughters；　both　for　this　life　and　the　life　to　e。

Believe　me；

Yours　very　sincerely；

William　Booth。

Rider　Haggard；　Esq。；　J。P。

On　May　20；　1912；　the　General　wrote　to　me；　saying　that　he　was　to　undergo　at　once　an　operation　for　cataract　on　his　remaining　eye；　one　being　already　blind。

The　signature　to　this　touching　letter；　written　just　before　his　last　illness；　for　death　followed　on　the　heels　of　that　operation；　is　somewhat　irregular；　for　then