A DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 37, 13 September 1890, Page 9

A DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT.

During the Russo-Turkish war a private in the Kexholm Regiment when in Bulgaria found a little Turkish girl* about four years old, who had been abandoned by her father and mother. The soldier took the little one to his officers, who resolved to adopt it. The child who was suffering from want of food, soon recovered, and told her protectors that her name was Aish. As soon as peace had been signed, and the Russians were allowed to enter Constantinople, the colonel bought a quantity of dresses for ‘the young lady,' and ‘a hat with a real garden of flowers upon it.’ When the regiment returned to Warsaw the officers resolved to do their best for the girl. They imposed upon themselves an income-tax of 1 per cent., and resolved to pay to ‘the Aish Fund ’ ten copecks for each pack of cards used at the Regimental Club, etc. Aish, who meanwhile had been christened under the name of Maria Kexholmskaia, was then placed at the Maria College for young girls at Warsaw. Twelve years have passed, and Maiia Kexholmskaia has become a pretty girl, and has just finished her college studies. The regiment gave a /17c in her honour a few days ago, when a State dinner, during which the oldest non commissioned officer of the regiment, in name of all the privates, presented a holy image : and in the evening there was a ball.