FOE THE CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16570, 20 June 1917, Page 9

FOE THE CHILDREN.

PETER'S SOLDIERS.

Peter pit his arm affectionately round the neck of a large bulldog, who was watching his little master with eager eyes which expressed the hope that Peter would be tempted to take him for a walk. As Biggies was unable to answer his question, Peter continued: "We should be very proud that mummy is nursing wounded soldiers, Biggies, .but I wish wo were soldiers, too." The nursery clock struck three before Peter spoke again. "Biggies," he said, suddenly, "you and I yill go and have tea with Mr. Redpath i we have not been there for a long, long time." , After they had had tea, Peter clambered on to Mr. Redpath's knee and begged for a story. It was no unusual thing for the squire to fill Peter's head with tales of giants and fairies, chivalrous knights and fair ladies, but for once he seemed strangely disinclined to commence. "Go on, squire," urged Peter, putting his arms round the old mans neck and hugging him. . "Would you like a true story to-day, sonny, instead of just a make-believe one?" and Peter nodded his head eagerl? in reply. , • . j "'A real true story?" he inquired. "A real true story," Mr. Red path answered gravely, lifting Peter from. his knee. " First of all," he continued, I am going to show you a picture of the hero of my story." "Oh— I" exclaimed Peter, excitedly. " Are we going to visit the gallery ? It was only on very rare occasions that Mr. Redpath took Peter into his picture gallery, but Peter enjoyed nothing better than standing in front of the portraits of the old man's ancestors listening to the wonderful tales which .the squire told about them. . , Peter was rather disappointed to nna that Mr.. Redpath did not stop to tell him about any of the pictures, but hurried him to the far end of the gallery, where hung a huge portrait mysteriously veued by a dark green curtain. 'For some minutes no word was spoken, and then with a half-fitirce gesture, the squire flung aside the curtain, and ~ Peter saw the portrait of a young man in the dress* uniform of an officer in the Life " 3 Who is it?" Peter asked breathlessly. "Who is it?" Peter asked breathlessly. "My son," replied the squire shortly.^ "Oh!" Peter paused politely. He did not like to add that he did not know• he had a son, because ho felt in his childish mind that Mr. Redpath was finding it difficult to tell a story about the splendidlooking soldier. . , "What is his name? Peter asked alter

a moment's silence. _ . :, , " Cedric," the old man's voice trembled, but he added quickly: "And now, Peter, I will tell, you the promised story." He led the child to a window seat, and taking hold of his two small hands firmly between his own, commenced: " Once upon a time I had a small boy just like you. He was a jolly little chap, and when he grew up he took a commission in the army. For a long time he and I were very happy together until one day he told me he was engaged to be married, and—. "Thepquire stopped suddenly, as if seeking for words which would not come, but presently he continued: _ " I did not like the girl whom Cedrio wanted to marry, and so we quarrelled.'• Peter's hands were gripped very tightly, but he struggled manfully to keep back the cry of pain which rose to his lips. "Cedrio went away," the squire went on. He married the girl, and I have never seen him since." " Poor, poor squire," Peter 6aid, softly, and finding his hand suddenly released he put his arms round Mr. Redpath's neck and kissed him, then calling to Biggies, who had gone to sleep on the floor, Peter ran out of the gal!err and downstairs. _ When he got home, Peter found his mother had got back from the hospital. "Well, Peter darling, what have you been doing?" his mother asked. "I have been to Mr. Redpath's to tea, Mums," Peter answered seriously, but he did not tell the story which he had heard. The next day Peter's mother asked him if he would like to go with her to the hospital, so in the afternoon they went' off together, Peter with his arms laden with cigarettes and flowers. Peter was delighted with the hospital. All the officers were so pleased to see him, and he talked away to them in his quaint way, quite unconsciously helping them to fight their pain. " Would you like to come and see an officer who is very ill?" asked one of the nurses. Peter was quite willing, and so he was taken away from the big ward into a, little room and left beside the bed of a big handsome man, who sniled chsirmingly to the golden-haired little fellow as he sat down beside him.

"Is your name Cedric?" . "Yes," answered the man. "How do you know?" " Is your father Squire Redpath?" A shadow passed over the man's face, and his mouth hardened. " Yes, he is," he said, defiantly. Peter found it rather a difficult situation to cope with, but he slipped his small hand into Cedric's large brown one and whispered, "Squire is wanting you awfully badly." Then he darted from the room and out of the hospital and ran for all he was worth until he reached Mr. Redpath's house. The " Dragon" announced him solemnly, but before the words had left his mouth, Peter was across the room and pulling the squire out of his chair, cried: " Cedric is in our Red Cross hospital awfully ill, and "he's expecting you." That night Peter confided ever/thing t<r Biggies, who listened appreciatively. " And you know, Biggies," Peter added just before his nurse took him away to bed, " Cedric and his wife are coming to live with the squire, and he says we may to to tea every day in the week if xrt like." -