We corresponded till his death, and I still hear
occasionally from one or other of my Phoonghi friends."
As for his own soldiers, they came fairly to worship him. To them he was
not a Lord, or General, or Field Marshal, but just "Bobs" and "Our Bobs."
Wellington commanded the respect of his men, but Roberts their love.
"Lord Roberts! Well, he's just a father," is the testimony of one gunner
in the South African War. "Often goes around hospital in Bloemfontein,
and it's 'Well, my lad, how are you today? Anything I can do for you?
Anything you want?'--and never forgets to see that the man has what he
asks for. Goes to the hospital train--'Are you comfortable? Are you
sure you're comfortable?' Then it's 'Buck up! Buck up!' to those who
need it. But when he sees a man dying, it's 'Can I pray with you, my
lad?' I've seen him many a time praying, with not a dry eye near--tears
in his eyes and ours. He is a lord!"
A favorite story about him relates to an audience with Queen Victoria.
The famous veteran was then sixty-eight and for several years had been
living in retirement. Now his sovereign asked him to buckle on his sword
again, and go to retrieve the fallen British fortunes in South Africa.
"You do not think that you are too old for this arduous task?" asked the
Queen.
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