The Inner Life

housing these people, though many thousands were still left without a roof over their heads. Hundreds and hundreds of loaves of bread were cut up every day, till those who were engaged in this work had great dents in their hands almost amounting to wounds.

It was wonderful to see the tireless effort put forth by every one to help where they could, and the Dutch people proved themselves good Samaritans to all; for it made no difference what the nationality, once over the frontiers and on Dutch soil all were alike—all became just men, women and children who cried out for help, and the Dutch Samaritan rendered it to the best of his ability.

In spite of all the Dutch could and did do, there was plenty left to do for anyone else who really desired to help. The Leader of our little group called us all together and the suggestion was made that some of us go in pairs down the different country lanes and fields and search the country to the boundary for those who had not been able to keep up with the rest and had fallen along the way. Our plans were laid and we separated two and two, a man and a woman, to look the country over and to report or bring in when possible all we could find, having nothing to do with those who had died, but to help those who still breathed.

My companion, who was nicknamed “Mac,” and I started off together to explore. We walked along the borders, we both wore high boots and were equipped with the Quaker Uniform—a dark grey, the women wearing breeches the same as the men, for convenience. Food was not as yet very scarce in Holland, and so we were not hungry and were both in good condition and eager indeed to do our part.

We were both excellent walkers, but I remember I tried for quite a time to keep pace with Mac, but his stride was too long for me and I had to give up. We had walked for several hours and had carried several in; it was getting dark and I was at the end of my tether. We came to a couple of blind lanes, both leading into the big pine woods so abundant in Holland. I thought I saw a way to shorten our search and in spite of the strict orders we had received, never to separate, yet at this time I turned to Mac and said—“Look, we can see the end of these lanes; you go down there and I’ll go down this one.”