Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-11-13

AlHUN/l#1SNN III gu ul5 PIluCl-
YSZWtES pal and most
ySESNA. . -A' necessary gar
MII1M ment, a huge
mufHer was twisted around his neck
and wound several times round his
small body before the ends finally
found resting place inside his trous.
ers; over this muller he wore an old
and frsyed Eton jacket buttoned ight-
" across, or pinned where the but.
tons were missing. An ancient pair of
women's boots, many sizes too large
and displaying wealth of toes, COM
pleted his indiscriminate attire.
His hair, which would apparently
have been of a vividly 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 force OF
habit or the necessity of circum-
stance. He WAS very thin and very
active, and probably some twelve
smoky London summers had passed
over his head.
was young and struggling doc
tor IN the East End of London at the
time, with hard work and poor
patients, and my first introduction to
the boy was on account OF q fierce and
deadIysenmity which had grown up
between the youth who busted my
surgery and carried out my medicine
and the ragged one, who was known,
by the way, as "Ginger Green"-an
appellation which surely points to a
love of color dormant in tho breasts
Of the great unwashed, adverse criti-
clsms notwithstanding.
The enmity terminated in what was,
/ believe, locally known as ''scrap, "
outside my surgery door, in which my
youthful assistant was severely
mauled. In addition to the injuries
inflicted upon himself his basket was
knocked over in the scuffie and sew
eral bottles broken. I happened to
return at the moment Of the latter
catastrophe, and seized "Ginger" by
the collar and bore him inside, with
the object of inhicting summary chas-
tisement. Ihad dragged him into the
surgery and closed the door before he
fully realized his position, and then
he crouched on the floor huddled up
in q heap, with one arm put up to
shield his head.
He was such forlorn little figure
and so very helpless that oil thoughts
of punishment vanished from my
mind. merely stood over him
awaiting the turn of events.
ssGarn.I" he exclaimed. "Who yer
'ittin' of? I amt done nuffink. p"
'T think you have done o great
deal, my young FRIEND" I ventured
to suggest. "What do you mean by
breaking bottles and punching inoffen-
sive errand boys?"
sT didn't want to break no bottles,
guv'nor. What's e want to go givin
me IS lip for, eh? 'E's always at it. "
"I regret that he should have of
Tended your deep sensibilities," re-
piled, "but who is going to pay for
the medicine?"
That question rendered him sudden
Iy silent and serious. He shufaed to
his feet, and stood there furtively
glancing round the room and hope
lessly thrusting his hands into one and
another of his ragged pockets.
"Was it much, guv'nor?" he asked,
glancing up at me wistfully.
'.More than you could pay" 1 re.
piled. 81 suppose I had better send
for policeman"
The awful nature OF his situation
appeared fully to dawn upon him.
He cast one hungry glance towards
the closed door and another to the
window, then drew his ragged sleeve
across his eyes and began to cry.
fIt warn't my fault, euv'nor, sw'elp
me, it warn't. was q dobbin' i'm on
the kisser and never seed lis bawsket,
guv'nor."
restrained sudden 1ncllnatlon TO
laughter and spoke seriously.
stWhat's your name"
"Green, guv'nor; they calls me Gin
ger"
"Well, Ginger" Ireplied, ''are you
aware that those bottles of medicine
were for two people-three people, in
fact-who are very seriously i'll, and
who are waiting for it?"
He became more solemn than ever.
eOh, lorl' he exclaimed in a breath
less whisper; "will they pop it, guv''
norT"
"Pop It'll" I echoed. "What dc
you mean?" =.
"Die-guv'nor-die."
'I think it's very likely" I said, as
gravely as 1 could.
"Cawn't yer send 'em some more?'
"1 might do that, but ="
'1f you mix up some more, guv'nor,
and tell me where they live, I'll cut
round wiv it now-straight, 1 will,
guv'nor.
looked in some wonderment a
him; he was SO desperately in earnest.
But the end Of the matter was, that
made up the medicine afresh and, as
my own boy was still dressing hi
wounds and amounting them with
maudlin tears. 1 gave the bottles into
the hands of Ginger, with many in
ward misgivings and many directions
"Oh, I knows 'em," he said, listen
ing eagerly. 'tBilly Collins lives il
the buildings; I seed lis muvver g.
in just now. This ole gal" indicating
another bottle, "'angs out up Ange
court; this one lives in our 'ouse."
Gall right" 1 said. "But be quick.
'Right you are, guv'nor. FL.
turned at the door and came bacl
again. "Ain't to give 'em no d'rec
tions about the doses, nor nudink"
"Certainly not; It's all put on tn
bottles-on the labels. And com
back here when you have delivered