A Boer And His Slave

As I was standing at the door of the nn, af ter supper, trying to obtain a litle fresh air, for the interior was somevhat stuffy and redolent with Boer tosacco, a spider, drawn by two horses, )ulled up in front of me, and a fat, juffy Boer descended, having previous]y committed the care of the reins to a confused, shivering heap of something, which at iïrst I oould not distingiiish. The voice of the visitor was then heard calling loudly for brandy, which was foliowed by an explanation that it was ilIU II il' VTCM 'I' 1 1 ( 1 1 l i i I . il' IKUI I .11 l '11 lim, however, enough and to spare to rotect liimsclf f rom cold, and I am ifraid the excuse was öot believed by anyone, though, for all anybody cared, ie was welcome to drink twenty tots, as he called tliem, so long as he did not make liimself obnoxious afterward. ft'hile he was indulging in his potations '. advaneed close up to the spider for the mrpose of making an inspection of the shivering heap that held the reins. Examination proved it to be a poor, halfnaked Hottentot or Bushman, who, covvering in a ragged blanket, was endeavoring to get warm. 'Here is a subect to whom a glass of brandy would lo some benefit, I called out to the andlord inside, and upon his making lis appcarance I requested him to bring iorth a good strong tot. The Boer at ;his junctnre made his appearance rather drunk and decidedly an unpleasant neighbor. Mounting his spider, he was pi'oceeding to take his departure, when, springing to the horses' heads, I restrained theni. -What is de matter?' tie called out, 'What do you stop zee liorses for?' 'Nothing,' I answered, except to give that poor, shivering slave of yours a drink, and you are not oing on until he has had one either.' 'What! you give zee dog a drink?' questioned my drunken friend, full of astonishment. 'Dog?' I replied. 'I don't know what 3011 cali a dog; if he is one, all I can say is that he is a ïnuch nicer oreature than you are.' 'But I am in zee hurry,' continued the Boer, with a arunKen íuccup; ana i want to get on, he added, toucking up his horses. The animáis sprang forward, but I managed to restrain them ; and my husband coming to my assistance, they were effectually stopped. By this time the landlord made his appearance, and, taking the glass from his hands, I told him to run quickly for a pipe, a box of matches and some tobáceo. I then proceeded to give the Hottentot his drink; but for a long time he could not be made to onderstand that it was for him. When, liowever, this dawned upon him, his face of astonishment, wonder and gratitude was worth seeing. His eyes tilled with tears as he took the glass with his poor, trembling hands, and in broken English I heard him thank me, though in a low voice. 'Good lady - kind missus,' he said; 'English lady you are - English very kind, not like the Boer.' I the pipe, box of matches and tobáceo I had sent for; and presenting him in addition witfa a warm blanket, I then told my dranken friend that he was at liberty to proceed. The potations, however, were taking effect; his head had sunk on his chest and the reins wero dropping from his hands. Having called the Hottentot'sattention to hismastcr's state, the man took the reins, and thanking the kind 'missus' once more, proceeded to act the part of Jehu.