The Princeton union., 1879-02-19
"ODDS- -AND-ENDS."

1u7S. - III L e"%'s
"ODDS-AND-ENDS." .m.,x n
BY SUSAN II. WHOM. rs-.. g..
''If you please, sir, Mrs. Maginnis says she
can't come to wash windows to-day, because
she is sick, and wants to know would you be
kind enough to come and see her, and please
keep the Job till she gets we'll" i
The little figure in the doorway Of DR..
Howard's office, gazing wistfully into the doc
tors face, was study. .sF
She was clad in somewhat uncouth dress,
originally of some grayish material, but
pieced, darned and patched with various
coat of many colors." A red handkerchief
was pinned under her chin. which heightened
the brilliancy of pair of sparkling black
eyes, and mass OF jet black, tangled curls
were pushed back from pale face that un-
der any circumstances, would be pronounced
were encased in a pair of old rubbers which
she confessed to having picked from a scav-
enger barrel. L-a
Dr. Howard gazed at the wan little object,
and wondered if life could be worth a great
deal to such as she.
1What might be your name?' he inquired
"Well, they call me Odds and Ends mostly,
but my right name is Margaret.
"Odds.and- Ends! Well, I declare! But up
on my word, Odds-and- Ends, you are queer
! looking genius. Where do you live?'
"Down there in Crazy alley, r'ar OF No. 9,
second door, up four flights, rough long
| entry, turn to the left"
'There, there! That will do, Miss Odds-and
| Ends! But now tell me, little one," he asked
kindly, "are you impervious to the cold, or do
! you prefer to 60 without stockings in De-
cember? Do you know that you are inviting
cramps, and what not. by dressing in that
| fashiOn?'
81 don't know, sir; but this is all have. l
never was sick in all my life, only once, when
! had the mumps, and once again, when
had the measles, or cues, the measles had
sick--but didn't" she added, archly. I'VE
did not live in Crazy alley then," she contin-
| ued, "but we were boarding in a large hotel
where there were ever so many servants"
"Who do yon mean by we:'
| "Why, papa. mamma and l. But papa died
| and mamma says since then we do not live at
! all, we only STAY"
| ''How old are you?" inquired the doctor
with strange and sudden interest.
| "Ten, sir" ..N
| garct, was seated in the doctors comfortable
office and paying her respects to handsome
| apple that the good man had put into her
! hands. lie
At this junctu:e, Mrs Badger, the doctors
housekecper, came bustling IN. ~s7's .,7'5>~
well, if shan't give it up! Here is that
| strange child, and sitting here as 'cozily as
you please. Are you sick. you little rag tag
| and bob tail?' p. ..... .>, ..
"Now Mrs Badger" interposed the doctor
"do not call too many names The little one
has brought me message from Mrs. Magin
mis-, who is not very well to-day and requires
my services. Run on now, Odds and Ends
and say that will be there dircctly!'
| Eyes, sir"
"a strange child that, Mrs. Badger, truly
How long have you known ler?'
"Oh, for nearly year, off and on. She has
been III the habit of coming here for colo
! pieces every now and then. Her mother, ]
believe has known better circumstances, bu
became reduced, like many others in cities
| andis now, l think, very poor indeed. The
mother is sickly too, BELIEVE" .-.s>.
"When she comes again, Mrs. Badger, it dc
my desire that you see she is properly clothed
1t is simply preposterOus to send a child Out
50 thinly clad on such a raw, inclement day al
this" and the doctor buttoned his great coat
about him and stepped into his carriage tt
make his daily round of calls ;lbut first of alliht
drove to the. .squalid abode OF Mrs. Maginnis
for DIR. Howard was never known to neglec
the humb]est child of earth. when such wer,
sick and suffering.
But all that day. and for many subsequent
days the good doctor was haunted by tn,
wistful eyes of the strange child whose way i,
| life seemed to him so hard and unnatural
He inquired Of Mrs. Badger many times tt
know If she had seen or learned any more 0
quaint little Odds-and- Ends; but Mrs. B. de
clared she had not seen hide nor hair of he
since the morning she brought the messag,
from Mrs. Maginnis, and that hard working
woman had lost the run of her entirely.
1t was whole year from that time Whel
: one evening DR.. Howard was hurrying alons
a crowded thoroughfare. He was startled b,
a sudden cry and confusion of voices, as
runaway horse dragging the remnant of
carriage came leaping and plungi e alons
the street. One glance showed the excessive
, danger of a Child who was midway upon tn
crossing, and directly in the path of tho furi
| GUS animal. -.....er ,r ~r.s-.-.
Another instant and DR.. Howard and tn
child were both down in the mud of tn
street, and the dangerous creature was
, bay. The doctor had snatched the child from
beneath the very hoofs of the horse, and wit
the other hand seized the bride of the foam
) ing, wild-eyed animal, and the next moment
as assistance came, fell with the rescued on
prone in the street. Recovering himself il
second, he looked into the face of the bu1
, den that lay quite unconscious on his arr
: | and beheld the countenance of-Odds- and
ends.
A carriage bore him and his new-foun
wanderer quickly to his office, where, in
| short time, Odds and Ends was restored t
+ consciousness, and her delight knew n
bounds when she recognized her preserver
VHclc Weie you gong W0en The accldeL
s happened?" asked the DOCTOR
, Odds and -Ends W4s silent. ,-~. s..v4t
'."You need not tell me unless you wish,
said the doctor
) 81 may as well tell you," she said after
, pause. u was going to pawnshop-mamm
. sent me with this ring; it it an opal, and
J dear friend gave it to her before ever she so,
my father: She has kept it all this time b,
l cause she liked the one who gave it to he
] very much, and she did not want to part wit
/ the ring. But you see, we got very poor, an
e mamma was sick, and this ring was the la
we had to part with, except mammals we,
= ding ring" Saying (which Odds-and- Enc
took the ring from its little casket and slir
e ped it upon the doctors smallest finger.
: What was there upon the act that cause
the man to change to q pallid hue and h
= firm hand to tremble like leaves in the wint
l of October? Did he attach any superstitutio
: ] TO the brilliant and changeful colors Of th
,%.;ri