He told me his mother and sisters knew his nerves were weak and had always taken special care of him.

He said that up to this time God had been very good to him in answering his prayer that he might not have to go over the parapet.

I asked him what right he had to pray such a prayer.

He was really asking God to make another man do what he would not do himself.

The prayer was selfish and wrong, and he could not expect God to answer it.