River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-20
"ODDS-AND-ENDS.
EY SUSAN II. wIxoN.

kind enough to come and see her, ana pleast
keep the Job till she gets well"
The little figure in the doorway Of Dr.
Towards Office, gazing wistfuliy into the doc
tors face, was a study.
She was clad in a somewhat uncouth dress,
originally Of some grayish material, but
pieced, darned and patched with various
kinds Of goods, until it resembed "Josfphs
coat Of many cOlUrs." \ red handkcr, licl
was pinned under her chin. which helghtf ned
the brilliancy Of pair OF sparkling black
eyes and mass of jet black, tangled CIrls
were pushed back from pale face thar, un-
der any circumstances, would be pronounced
one Of rare beauty. Her -tockingless feet
were enc I5ed in pair OF old rubbcrs which
she confessed to having picked from scav-
enger barrel.
Or. Howard gazed at the wan little object,
and wondered if life could be worth great
deal to such as she.
What might be your name" he inquired.
well they cali me Odds and Ends mostly,
bat my right name is Margaret
eOdds-and Ends. Well, declare. But up
on my word, Odds and Ends, you are queer
looking genius. Where do you live"
Down there in Crazy alley, rear OF No. 3,
second door, up four flights, through long
entry, turn to the left
tTherc. there! That will do, Miss Odds-and
Ends, But now tell me, little one" he asked
kindly, "are you inpervious 20 the cold, OF do
YOU refer to 20 without stockings in De
cembery Do you know that you are inviting
Group diphheria, pneumonia, rheumatism,
cramps, and what not, by dressing in tlat
fashiOn"
Il don't know, sir; but this is all have
never was sick in all my life, only once, when
had the humps, and once again, when
had the measles, or guess the t1easles had
me- Eyeryb body thought I'd die, was 50 ,ry
sick-but didn't" she added, aychly. We
did not live in Crazy alley then" she contin-
ned, "hut We were boarding in large hotel
where there were ever so many servants"
ttWho do Won mean by we:'
"Why, papa. mamma and ]. But papa died
and mqmma saws since then we do not i've az
AL, we only stay"
"How old are you?" inquired the doctor,
with a strange and sudden interest.
Ten, sir"
Nv this time Oddsand- Ends, or little Mar
garet, was seated in the doctors comfortable
Office and paying her respects To handsome
apple that the good man had put into her
hands.
At this iuncture, Mrs Badger, the doctors
housekeepcr. came busting in.
"WelL III shan't give it mp Here is that
strange child, and sitting here As cOzily as
you please. Are you sick, YOU little rag tag
and bob tail?'
"Now Mrs Badger" interposed the doctor,
do not call too many names. The little one
has brought me Il message from Mrs. Magin-
mis-, who is not very well to-day aud requires
my services. Run on now, Odds-and Ends,
and say that | will be there directly"
ayes, sirp'
"a STANCE child that, Mrs. Badger, truly.
How long have you known herr
"Oh, fOrnearly year, oil and on. She has
been IN the habit Of coming here for cold
pieces every now and then. Her mother, !
believe has known better circumstances, but
became reduced, Ike many others in cities,
and is now, ! think, very poor indeed. The
mother is sjcfly too, believe"
b sag.sr ar Atr- kq Aornr i
my desire that YOU see she is properly clothed.
It IL simply preposteroUs to send a child out
so thinly clad ON such raw, Indictment day as
this" and the doctor buttOncd his great coat
about him and stepped into his carriage to
make his daily round Of calls Hut first of all!he
drove TO the squ'iid abode OF Mrs. Maginns,
for DR.. Howard was never known to neglect
the humblest child of earth, when such were
Sick and SOLDERING.
But all that day, and for many subsequent
DAYS the good doctor was haunted BY the
wistful eyes Of the strange child whose way in
life seemed to him so hard and unnatural.
He inquired of Mrs. Badger many times to
know il size had seen or learned any more OF
quaint little Odds-and- Ends; but Mrs. B. de-
eIared she had not seen hide nor hair of her
since the mornn she brought the message
from Mrs. Maginnis, and that hard working
woman had lost the run OF her entirely.
1t was whole year from that time when
one evening DIR. Howard was hurryug along
sudden cry and confusion of voices, a. a
runaway horse dragging the remnant OF a
carriage came lcaping and pluHgt Z along
the street. One glance showed the excessive
danger OF q child who was midway upon tile
crossing, and directly in the path of the furi-
Gus animal.
Another instant and Dr. Howard and the
child were both down in the mud Of the
street. and the dangerous creature was at
hay The doctor had suatched the child from
fbs hnafs Of he. aud yxift
che other hand seized the bride of the foam
ing wiid-eyed animal, and the next momen i
as assistance came fell with the rescued one
prone in the street Recovering himself in
a second, he looked into the face OF the bur
den that lay quite unconscious ON his ara
and beheld the Uountenance of--Odds- and
ends.
A carriage bore him aud his new fouuC
wandercr quickly to bis office, where, in
short time, 0dds-and- Luds was restored t
consciousness, and her delight knew NJ
bounds when she recognized her pres yer,
''Where were you going when the acciden
happened? ~ asked the doctor.
Odds Ends was silent
''You need not tell me unless you wish,
said the doctor.
Il may as we'll tell YOU" she said, after
pause. Il was going to pawnshop-mamm
sent me With this ring; il it an opal, and
dear friend gave it to her before ever she say
my father She has kept it all this time he
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 rot very poor, an
mamma was sick, and this ring was .hc las
we had to part with, except mammals wee
ding ring Saving which Odds and End
took the ring from its little casket aud sir
ped il upon the doctors smallest finger,
What was there upon the act that cause
the man To change 10 a p&llid hue and hi
firm hand TO tremble like leaves in the wind
of October? Did he attach any superstltutio
to the brilliant and chaugcful cOlors OF II
opal, or was some old memory of the pas
long latent. EOw asserting its existence.
Margaret Margaret he said in tren
ulous voice, take this bauk-note 10 vol
mother, and leave me the ring
Haven't YOU made a mistake sir? Tn
bill las nifty ON it.
.'No mistake, Margaret. The ring Is wort
much more; indeed It is priceless, ana
turned away his head that the wandering ey,
of the child might not witness his emotion.
Fifty dollars. Oh, what viii poor mamiu
sayi must hurry nov, for she viii be anN
Gus about me. Good night
Walt Margaret, am going with YOU
In a few minutes, little Margaret or Odd
aud Ends, with her preserver, was beiu
whlrled rapidly in the doctors carriage to Il
poor dwelling she c8llel home.
Dr.. Howard, ON entering the abode, vi
struck with amazement, for used D. he was
seeing poverty in all is forms, he had seido
witnes sed so cherries an apartment in whit
as this, where he new, by 4 train of uueNoec
ed Circumstances, found himself
"Oh mnama, | have been almost killed,
have. but this kind doctor, the same one "
heard me tell about YOU know, saved me, al
he has brought me home, mamma, and see
see-the bank note-and-"
'Hush," said the doctor, imperitIyei
Your mamma has tainted. Bfinga glass
water quick :"
The restoratiyes the docto, always CARR,
With him were applied, and the paie lips VIII