The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-06
and Rags

''yVhat IS the ma tier. litile etrf?" 1 asked
OF a small, ragged figure seated upon the
curbstone, partially clothed Ia fnded red
calico, with n generous display Of bare,
brown feet and ankles from bs meath the
short, skinny skirt; the only head dress
Natures covering OF tangled brown curis.
The small face. with it, little pathways
down tho cheeks where tho tears had
washed away into tiny drifts tho accumu-
lated dust Of days, is lifted slowly from
the scrawny brown hands. and a dclcf1
voice pipes forth, want -ltag 50
"Ragsi And pray ceil me what you VIII
Do with them"
'"Taint them; It's nothing but him.
Rags is a dog, he ia. an I wants him
sobDed the child. and down goes the
tangled head again.
'And where is RaSs-dead?" I ventiucd
TO inquire.
Nom. he's lost. was foilowin' the
old circus procession, and Rags got losted
from me in the crowd"
Leaving the sobbing waif. / continued
my way down the street But the rorl0ru
appearance Of that child who had "no
chance" haunted me untn. drawing my
thoughts fOrcibly from such an unpleasant
subject, 1 for the first time noticed tho
steady pity pat" OF small feet az my
side. Looking down. 1 meet tie question
ius gaze OF n snan dog, whose DIRTY
white coat. covering tho lean little body
SIS sprinkled with small black freclues de-
nominated spots" This poor little ami
mai was most certainly not q member Of
the canine 1900
A brilliant thought struck meas MOTTO
ed the similarity OF the foriorn aspect OF
the little spotted dog and tho little red
rI
not Tor purple and fine linen but Tor Rags.
Could this bee Rags!
rags here. Rags" i called softly %
the little beast 1 was promptly answered
by q vigorous waggng of stumDy tai.
ana a quick g.lstonng OF tho bright black
eyes
hastencd back o. the cirrhTtone cor
ncr. using an the dog language that
could muster I'm invitation % Rags 90 foi-
low. And follow he did until within sight
of that curbstons when with ono Wild
yelp of joy. Le flew along the ground until
there was n sudden collision and Cd mike
ture Of red calico and white and black
dog.
I have never. before or sIrce, seen two
happier creatures than were Rags and
his mistress at that meeting or the parted
AS ] witness cd -. the thought occurred 10
newly not invite R4s5 and Coz TO a
New Year dinner!
'VVhat is your name and where DO you
live?" / asked. interruptng tho no" OF
ungrammatical thanks from the cherIy
lips or Rags protector.
"Afy name is 10. L live mostly nowhere
r,a,arn." she replied. "l sleeps al Dhcie
Hurs when he amt drunk an lels me.
when he's drunk mis- wife bosses an
inst keeps clear Of tho place
40 Won know tomorrow is New car $
No. Don't YOU want TO come 20 my
home and take dinner with me- ana Nii'5
Rags. OF course
10 gave a contemptuous SINH d.
remnant OF red calico and snoried. Ne.
Looks Ike st.. don't j. move Rags might
70 II was nttcn 20 take him.
''Never mind your clothes. There's no
one but me TO see You. 30 wash your
face. brush your hair and III meet yol
here ut nine o'clock tomorrow, and take
you with me-"
And so they came ON New Years Day,
four years ago. and they are hero yet.
10 is now "a bright girl of fourteen. stand
ing we'll I'm ali her classes; and Rags. is
a plump ball Of white and black. wlIdAu5
undisturbcd from parIor 10 garden.
hear the voice Of 10 inquiring earnest
J., GLOW many raislns must ! put tn the
fruit cake. auntie7 You know boys Ike
lots OF them" ] must 60 20 her assist
orce FOR to-day 10 a busy dav for us. as
we arc preparing for our annual Nc"
years dinner Tor ragged girls and bows
gathered from tho highways ana clIo-
stones. IDS i-i' O'''