The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-23
THE OPAL RING.

III you please, sir, Mrs. Maginnis saws
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"
The little figure standing in the door
way of DR.. Howard's Office. gazino
wistfully into the doctors face, was a
study.
She was clad in q somewhat uncouth
dress, originally of some grayish mate
rial, but pieced, darned and patched
with various kinds of goods until il
resembed "Joseph's coat of many
colors." A red hand kerchief was mined
under her chin, which heightened the
prl'liancy OF pair of sparkling black
eyes ana mass of jet black, tangled
curls were pushed back from a pale face
that, under any circumstances, would be
pronounced one of rare beauty. Her
stocklngless feet were encased in a pair
ot old rubbers which she confessed to
having picked from scavenger barrel.
Dr. Howard gazed at the wan little OBJ
Jeet, and wondered if life could be worth
great deal to such as she.
What might be your name" he in.
quired
"Well, they call me 'Odds-and- Ends
mostly, but my right name is Margaret.
"Cdds-and- Ends Well, l declare
But upon my word, Odds-and. Ends, Won
are queer-looking genius. Where do
you live"
Down there in Crazy alley, rear of No.
p, second door, up four flights, through
long entry turn to the left'-
There, therel That will do. Miss
Odds-and- Ends! But now tell me.
little one" he asked kindly, care YOU
impervious TO the cold, or do YOU prefer
to go without stock ngs in December
Do you know that you are inviting
Group, diphtheria pneumonia, rheuma,
tism, cramps and what not, by dressing
in that fashion,"
81 don't know, sir; but this is all 7
have, Twas ne er sick in ali nv life.
only once, when had the mumps. and
once again, when | had the measles.
or | guess the measles had me
Everybody thought I'd die, | was
so very sick-but | didn't she
added, archly. 1--WE did not live in
Crazy alley then" she continued, 'but
we were boarding in large hotel where
there were ever so many servants"
''What do you mean by WEI"
why, papa, mamma and !. But
papa died, aud mamma says since then
we do not live at all, we only stav.n
GLOW old are you" inquired the
doctor, with strange and sudden in
terest.
"Ten, SIR"
By this time Odds-and- ends, or little .
Margaret was seated in the doctors .
comfortable Office and paying her re.
spects to a handsome apple that the /
good man had put into her hands.
At this Juncture, Mrs. Badger, the
doctors housekeeper, came bustling in.
"Well, if shant give it up! Here is
that strange child, aud sitting here as
cozily as you please. Are you sick, you
little rag tag and bob tail2"
"Now Mrs. Badger" interposed the
doctor ''do not call too many naAks
The little one has brought me a message
from Mrs. Maginnis, who is not very well .
to. day and requires my services Run
on now. Odds-and- Ends, and say that
will be there directly"
"Yes, sir"
"a strange child like that, Mrs. Bad.
ger, truly, How long have you known
herm
"oh, for nearly a year, off and on.
She has been in the habit of coming
here for cold pieces every nowand then.
Her mother, ! believe, has known better
but became reduced, like
many others in cities, and is now, /
think, very poor indeed The mother is
sickly too, | believe" 4"
when she comes again, Mrs. Badger,
1t is my desire that you see she is prop
erly clothed. 1t is simply preposterous
to send a child out so thinly clad on
such raw, iuclement day as this" and
the doctor buttoned his great coat about