FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 3 May 1901, Page 3

FROM SOUTH AFRICA.

Writing from Pretoria, dated Bth Novvember Reuter’s correspondent states : When first Barberton was occupied I was witness of a pretty little incident, which seems worth recording. la the course of an evening saunter I came across three little mites, hand-in-hand, standing fearfully some ten or twenty paces from a picket. The sentry, a stalwart cavalryman, paced bis beat smartly, and looked imposing even in khaki. The eldest of the children was a girl perhaps six years old ; the other two clung to each side of her skirts. As I approached, the leader of the party said I want to go past, please.” “ Very well,” I said, “goon ; nobody will hurt you.” “But,” she said, “ won’t the sentry stop us ? ” “ Tell him you are a little English girl,” I replied. Three little figures moved timidly forward. The sentry had overheard the conversation, and his eyes twinkled grimly. “ Halt! who goes there ? ” rang out in stentorian tones ; then in childish treble, “ Please, I’m a little English girl ; “ Pass, little English girl; all’s well.” The butt of a rifle clanked on the stone pavement, and the sentry stood at case with, as much precision as if he had been on guard at Whitehall itself. The little party, with beating hearts, hut heads erect, walked past the post, full of the pride of race and of conquest.