A CHILD’S SALUTE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 23 June 1915, Page 6

A CHILD’S SALUTE.

The following touching little sketch is taken fi’om a recent English paper: It was in Kensington Hardens, a couple of days ago. Tramping crisply up the gravelled path came a company of men,, carrying their obsolete rifles at the slope. Some wore white sweaters; many weie in the uniform which is now becoming so familiar as that allotted to the volunteer training corps by a strangely hesitant War Office. They were cheerful, albeit rather grim, these men. They were hardly soldier-like, in the text-book sense. But they were most certainly in earnest, and as they swung along with confident pace they radiated an atmosphere of determination that was decidedly-stimulating.

Pacing slowly towards thorn was a young woman, clad richly, but all in black. She was young—2s, perhaps. Her face was white. There were puriple shadows beneath her eyes. Her lips were set firmly. By her > side , W as a little girl of about three years old, also in black.

Such a sight is common enough in London’s parks to-day—the casualty lists will tell you why—and this would have aroused .no special interest were it not for what followed. The mother and child halted as the inarching drew near, and as the head of the column came abreast ot them the mother stooped and whispered something to 'the 'golden-curled ;irlie, and the little one straightened up,instantly and swung She black-gloved baby hand to her forehead at the salute; »- • ...

THE WAR WIDOW. , %<'. '.V It is utterly and hopelessly against all military regulations for a soldier marching in column of route to acknowledge such a salute. But the marching men saw,a pathetic figure <4 the war widow and her baby, and In defiance of all rules they instinctively laid their right hands on the magazines of their rifles, which,is -the way the salute would be. returned bad mili-tary-rules permitted. And, to their {Credit, the.officers forbore to rebuke. The war widow saw the action. For just the fraction of a moment tjio proud, patient face softened. Like the reflection of a swift moving cloud on the surface of a ,sti]l pool lit by the April sun, a quiver of emotion seemed to. sweep across the rigid paleness, and f,he firm set Ups trembled. . . . f , For the merest fraction of a moment. Then. ?there came a smile of .sadness and gratitude, a. gracious incliqatym of the brave head. The men marched