“‘Please, ma’am, have you any black-edged paper?’
“‘Please, what can I give which would keep on his stomach; is there any arrowroot to-day for him?’
“‘No; the tubs of arrowroot must be for the worst cases; we cannot spare him any, nor is there any jelly to-day; try him with some eggs, etc.’
“‘Please, Mr. Gordon wishes to see Miss Nightingale about the orders she gave him.’
“Mr. Sabine comes in for something else.
“Mr. Bracebridge in and out about General Adams, and orders of various kinds.”
Such was the busy life of which Miss Nightingale was the queen, though, unlike the queen-bee of the ordinary honey-hive, this queen of nurses was the hardest-worked and most severely strained worker in the whole toiling community.
It was early in the spring of 1855 that in the feeding department, which she rightly considered of great importance to her invalids, she received unexpected help.
This came from M. Soyer, who may be remembered by more than one old Londoner as at one time chef of the New Reform Club, where his biography, which contains some interesting illustrations, still adorns the library. M. Soyer begged to be allowed the command of the hospital kitchen at Scutari. He was an expert and an enthusiast, and very amusing.
Also what he offered was of no slight importance and unselfishness. In February, 1855, he wrote as follows to the Times:—