BABY GIRL IN TRENCHES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

BABY GIRL IN TRENCHES.

ADOPTED BY THE BEDi'OBDS

A pathetic war romance centres round a bright little girl of some lour years, who has just arrived at Bedford in charge of a sergeant-major of the Bedfordshire Regiment. She has spent over six months at the front with the regiment, who have adopted her. About eight months ago a company of the Bedford-hires were inarching in France for'the first line el trenches, when one of them, named Philip Impey. found the child in a ditch by the roadside. No one could go haek( so they took the girl with them into tne trench, and made her as comfortable as possible. In a few days she bad recovered from tne ill effects of the wet and exposure, and was running up and down the trenen, thf pet of all the officers and men. One day a bomb nearly filled in a part of the trench. Winn In had recovered from the shock the sergeant-major anxiously asked a mar. to go and see that the child was safe. They had left her asleep in a snug corner, and there sh? was found -till s.eeping. AX ANXIOUS MOMEXI. The (human trenches were about 100 yards away. One morning to their horror the men saw the child standing above the trench on the German side. Cries came from the enemy, but they were not hostile mis time. The sight of the girl, little irore than an infant, ton'bed their sentimental side, and sh ■ had offers of chocolate and invitations to go and see tlie.n. They did not expose themselves any more than the lJritish. it was through the periscope that they saw ilie child, and on. 1 can imagine iheni ere; ding round to get a view of this reminder of home. After that the girl imit over the parapet quite often. She '.v;i- as safe in that danger zone as if she bad been behind the lines. Xo (ieiman offered to harm her, and once she went close up ti their lir-i line tr> in -:. The daughter of the company wa- taken charge of by the company storcman. who had children of hi- own, am] was greatly proud ol hi> skill in dressing and undressing iho child and of his -trie lnos> about the morning bath. A month after -he was fend the company thonghi that they ought to give her a name. Philip Imney, who had discovered her. was now dead, and they gave her his surname, with Pliyl!i- a- the noaro-l ;i|iproach to Philip. After she had been -ix months with tue company the sergeant-major was

v. hiihU'i!. and ratue to n hospital at homo. Tlm l Lin I i aine w itli liim. and staved in bos;.it.i! too. the pel of the patients ami nm'-'-. The parentage "1' tlio child, and luuv sue came to ho deserted in a ditch, remains a mvstorv.

AX AFFTKI? THOUGHT. " Wli:it's tlie niattor, T)(i]ilii(> c '' '• PUaso, auntie 1 don't like my rake." "Well, tUvir, don't oat it." "But, auntie, 1 liavo oaten tt