St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-01-26
A BOer and His Slave.
From Lady Florence Dixie's Land of Misf

From Lady Florence Dixie's Land of Misfor-
tune
AS | was standing at the door of the
inn, after supper, trying to obtain a
little fresh air, for the interior was
somewhat stuffy and redolent with
Boer tobacco, spider, drawn by two
horses, pulled up in front of me, and a
fat, puffy BOer descended, having pre-
yiOusly committed the care of the reins
to a confused, shivering heap of some
thing, which at first | could not distin-
guish. The voice of the visitor was
then heard calling loudly for brandy,
which was followed by an explanation
that it was taken to warm himself. He
had fat on him, however, enough and
to spare to protect himself from cold,
and | am afraid the excuse was not be-
lieved by any one, though, for all any
body cared, he was welcome to drink
90 tots, a. be called them, so long as lie
did not make himself obnoxious after
ward. While he was indulging in his
pOtatiOns | advanced close up to the
spider for the purpose of making an
inspection of the shivering heap that
held the reins. Examination proved it
to be a poor, half-naked Hottentot or
blanket, was endeavoring to get warm.
'Here is Il subject to whom glass of
brandy would do some benefit" | call
ed to the landlord inside, and upon his
making his appearance | requested him
to bring forth good strong tot. The
BOer at this juncture made his appear
ance rather drunk and decidedly an
unpleasant neighbor. Mounting his
spider, he was proceeding to take his
departure, when, springing to the hors-
es' heads, | restrained them. "What de
matter ?" he called ont. "What do you
stop zee horses for ~ Nothing" | an
swered, "except to give that poor, shiv-
ering slave of yours a drink, and you
are not going on until he has had one
either" ''What you give zee dog a
drink ?" questioned my drunken friend
full of astonishment. ''Dog 2" | re-
piled. 81 don't know what you call
dog; if he is one, all can say is that
he is much nicer creature than you
are" "But am in zee hurry" con-
tinued the Boer, with drunken hic-
cup land | want to get on" he added,
touching up his horses. The animals
sprang forward, but managed to re-
strain 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, told him to run
quickly for a pipe, box of matches
and some tobacco. then proceeded
to give the HOttentot his drink but
for long time he could not be made
to understand that it was for him.
When, however, this dawned upon
him, his face of astOnishment, wonder
and gratitude was worth seeing. His
eyes filled with tears as he took the
glass with his poor, trembling hands
and in broken English | heard him
thank me, though in low voice
"Good lady-kind missus," he said
English lady you are-English very
kind, not like the BOer." | next pro
ceeded to make him happy with the
pipe, box of matches and tobacco | had
sent for; and presenting him in addi.
ton with a warm blanket, | then told
my drunken friend that he was at lib.
r erty to proceed. The potations, how
eve., were taking effect his head had
sunk on his chest and the reins were
dropping from his hands. Having
called the HottentOt's attention to hi
masters state, the man took the reins
and thanking the "kind missus" one,
more proceeded to act the part of Je
bu