Produced by Charles Klingman
NEW YORK
McCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO.
MCMVI
Copyright, 1906, by
McCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO.
Published, January, 1906
The Vrouw Grobelaar, you must know, is a lady of excellentstanding, as much by reason of family connections (for shewas a Viljoen of the older stock herself, and buried in hertime three husbands of estimable parentage) as of herwealth. Her farms extended from the Ringkop on the one sideto the Holgaatspruit on the other, which is more than aday's ride; and her stock appears to be of that idealspecies which does not take rinderpest. Her Kafirs wereborn on the place, and will surely die there, for thoughthe old lady is firmly convinced that she rules them with arod of iron, the truth is she spoils them atrociously; andwere it not that there is an excellent headman to herkraals, the niggers would soon grow pot-bellied inidleness.
The Vrouw Grobelaar is a lady who commands respect. Herface is a portentous mask of solemnity, and her figure isspacious beyond the average of Dutch ladies, so thatcertain chairs are tacitly conceded her as a monopoly. Thegood Vrouw does not read or write, and having never found aneed in herself for these arts, is the least thingimpatient of those who practice them. The Psalms, however,she appears to know by heart; also other portions of theBible; and is capable of spitting Scripture at you on thesmallest provocation. Indeed she bubbles with morality, anda mention of "the accursed thing" (which would appear to bea genus and not a species, so many articles of humancommerce does it embrace) will set her effervescing withmingled blame and exhortation. But if punishment shouldcome in question, as when a Kafir waylaid and slew achicken of hers, she displays so prolific an invention inexcuses, so generous a partiality for mercy, that not themost irate induna that ever laid down a law of his owncould find a pretext for using the stick.
She lives in her homestead with some half-dozen of nieces,a nephew or two, and a litter of grandchildren, who knowthe old lady to the core, cozen and blarney her as theyplease, and love her with a perfect unanimity. I think shesometimes blames herself for her tyrannical usage of theseinnocents, who nevertheless thrive remarkably on it. Youcan hardly get on your horse at the door without maiming aninfant, and you can't throw a stone in any directionwithout killing a marriageable damsel. They pervade the oldplace like an atmosphere; the kraals ring with theirvoices, and the Kafirs spend lives of mingled misery anddelight at their irresponsible hands.