The Daughter of the Regiment

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1767, 7 February 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Daughter of the Regiment

It is not often that the plot of an opera turns out to be a sober reality, but the following Bussian story tallies very aoourately with "LaFilledu Begiment." It appears that during tho war between Bussia and Turkey in 1877 a trooper in the Kexholm regiment came across a folorn little damsel of four years, who had been deserted by her parents in the hury of flight. Being a tender-hearted man, he carried the little one to bis quarters, where she speedily became a favorite with officers and men, and at tbe close of the war Ayeeha was adopted as the daughter of the regiment, the colonel assuming the duties of papa-in-chief, and providing her with a number of Bmart dresses in order the better to maintain and adorn the rank of " young lady "to which she had been promoted. On the return of the troops to Warsaw it was decided to give her a thoroughly sound education, the cost of whioh was defrayed by a lax of one per cent., self-imposed by the officers upon their pay, which was set apart as an " Ayesha " fund, assisted also by a fine of two and a half pence on every game of cards played in the regimental club. This fund soon realised a considerable sum, and tbe girl having been formally obristened Maria Kexholmekaia, was sent to a first-class boarding sobool where she remained until very recently Having during this interval acquired a goodly number of accomplishments, she was tben welcomed back to the regiment by a grand fete in her honor. As a token of her gratitude for all that had been done for her she presented to her protectorß a velvet cushion, richly embroidered by her own fair fingers with the monogram of the regiment in gold, as well as exact copies of all the decorations, badges and medals won by its bravery. The Emperor of Austria is honorary chief of the Kexholmers and is therefore honorary grandfather of the regiment's adopted daughter, in consequence of which it is expected that he will provide something handsome in the shape of a dowry when the young lady marries. Apparently, nothing has been heard of tbe parents who deserted the child, but even if they did put in an appearance now their child's future looks so rosy, it is difficult to see what claim they have npon her. Miss Maria Kexholmekaia is truly ft child of good fortune, j