The evening times., 1895-11-07
A Modern Cupid.

He was small and sailow faced and MOI
particularly clean; the half of a pair or old
braces supported his principal and most
necessary garment, a huge n.ufrIer was
twisted around hts neck and wound several
times round his small body before the ends
finally found resting place inside his
trousers; over this muffler he wore an old
and frayed Eton Jacket, buttoned tightly
across, or pinned where the buttons were
missing An ancient pair of women's boots
many sizes too large and displaying q
wealth OF toes, completed is iudiscriminats
attire.
His hair, which would apparently have
been of vividIy red hue, had there been
sufficient of it to admit of an impartial
Judgment as to It's color, was cropped very
short His eyes were keen and bright and
forever on the watch, probably from forcs
of habit or the necessity OF circumstances.
He was very thin and very active, and
probably some twelve smoky London SUM-
mers had passed over his head.
was a young and struggling doctor in
the east end of London at the time, with
hard work and poor patients and my first
INTRODUCTION 10 the boy was on account of a
rierce anu deadly enmity which had grown
up between the youth who busted my
surgery anu carried out my medicine and
thc rdgged one, who was known by the
way, as ''Gihecr Green'-an application
wnicn surely points to q love of color
dormant in the breasts OF the great un-
washed, adverse criticisms notwithstand.
ing.
Thls enniity terminated in what was.
beiieve, locally called scrap outside
my surgery door. In which my youthful as
sistant was severely nlauled. In addition to
the injuries inflicted upon him his basket was
Knocked over ia the scurfle and several
bottles broken 1 happened to return at
the moment or the latter catastrophe, and
seized Ginger" by the collar and bore
hin inside, with the object OF Inrlicting sum.
mary chaStisement- L had dragged him
INTO Tue surgery a nd closed the door before
ht iuiiy realized his position, and then lie
crocchefl ON the floor huddled up in heap,
with one arm put up TO shield his head
He was such foriorn little figure and
so very helpless that all thoughts OF pun
lshnient vanished from my mind. / merely
STOOD over him dwaiting the turn of events.
oarn!' he exclaimed. who yer 'ittin'
Of? I amt done nuffink"
i think you have done a great deal my
young frleDd," 1 ventured to suggest
what do you mean by breaking bottles
and punching inoffensive errand boys?'
Ididn't want TO break no bottles, guv'nor.
what's e want 10 go a givin' me is lip
for. eh? 'Es always at it,
Il regret that he should have offended
your deep sensibilities," 1 replied, but
who Is going to pay for the niedicine?'
That question rendered him suddenly
silent and serious. He shuffled to his feet,
and stood there furtively glancing around
the room ana hopeiessly thrusting his hands
into one another of his ragged pockets.
WasitDiucb, guv 'nor?'' he asked, giaDcing
up mt me wistfully.
More than You could pay" replied.
Il suppose l had better send for a police.
man"
The awful nature of the situation ap-
peared to fully da wn upon him. He cast one
hungry glance toward the closed door and
another to the windo W then Ore W hisragged
sleeves across his eyes and began to cry
1T warn't my fault. guv'nor. sw'elp me.
ii warn't. / was a dobbin' i'm on the
kisser and never seed is bawsket, guv'.
nor"
restrained a sudden inclination to laugh
ter, and spoke seriously.
whats you nanie?"
Green. guv nor; they call me Ginger"
We'll. Ginger" l replied. ARE you aware
that those bottles of medicine were for two
people, in fact-who are very
seriously i'll, and who are waiting for it?''
He became more solemn than ever.
oli- ici. It tACidllAtb. III d DItdluitSS
whisper; will they pop it. guv,nor?"
Pop it!' 1 echoed. What do you
mean-'
''Die-guv 'nor-die"
II think it's very likely" I said, as
gravely as | could.
''Cawn't you send 'em some more?''
II might do that, but"
IF you mix up some more guv'ner and
tell me where they live. I'll cut round wtv
NOS -sfr aferht r,x-sxx
looked in some wonderment at him: he
was so desperately in earnest. But the end
Df the matter was that I made up the
medicine afresh, and, as my own boy was
still dressing his wounds and amounting
them with maudlin tears, I gave the bot
Ties into the hands of Ginger, with many
inward niisgivings and many directions.
''Oh, L knows 'em!'' he said, listening
eagerly Billy Collins lives in the build.
ings; I seed lis muvver go in Just new.
This ole GAL" indicating another bottle
= 'angs out up Angel court; this one lives
n our 'ouse"
An right" 1 said "But be quick"
Right you are, guv'nor." He turned at
ne door, and came back again. Anti to
i've 'em no directions about the doses, nor
luffink?''
Certainly not: it's all put up on the
'ottles-On the labels. And come back here
when you have delivered them, SO that
~ V know that yoI have left them properly.
10 yoa understand"
He seemed doubtful for a moment, but
nodded his head, and was out
II the door like a flash, and saw him from
he window. scudding down the street, fol-
owed by GRO owd OF gamins who had waited
utside to hear the result of his capture.
In an incredibly short space of time he
vas back again. He passed his late enemy,
who opened the door, with lordly indiffer-
nee, and marched straight into the sur
cry.
Il done it, guv-nor," he said breathlessly.
Billy Collins muvver thought l was
uyin' 'er but told 'er to old is nose, an
lb is stummick when it was down, an SO
he seed knowed the ropes a bit, and took
t. Tother ones was all right"
Il didn't ask you to give instructions to
FRS Collins, or to any one else" said.
.vereiy. Are you sure you gave the
eople the proper bottles?'
Course, did. guv'nor. Can't 1 read?"
e replied, scornfulIy. But yer does write
queer fist, yer wouldn't pass the third
| saw a great deal Of Ginger Green after
lat and the more saw of him the more
ked him. 1 had thoughts of taking him
ito my service, in some capacity, but he
as in every way too erratic. / discovered.
'om casual questioning, that he gained
,mething of livelihood by selling news
apers and matches; that his mother went
1t '.charing," and that his father was an
by reason OF long experience, on
he liquor question.
I engaged him once to run errands for me,
nd provided him with some decent cloth
lg, but he was missing for several days
fter ward, and when he return ed he wore
Is old. clothes.
In explanation, he Informed me that far
er 'ad showed 'em up the spout" and men-
oned an establishment near at hand over
hose doorway hung three brass balls. At
,r that gave up the attempt
I suppose it happens to all men at some