The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-10-20
TATTERS.

blind master on the corner of a great
thoroughiare. He held in his mouth
a little basket, while he looked with
pleading eyes into the face of each
passer-by as if to say =
"What are you going to give my
poor master to-day?"
How well he remembered the day
he came into possession of his mas
ter, for Tatters was one of litter of
pups that first saw the light of day
in an old, country barn. He liked
his bed among the soft warm
hay, and had not the slightest OBJ
lection to remaining there had not
the owner, a great, sturdy farmer,
seriously objected to the little family.
"Here, Nike" he said, addressing
one of the farm-hands, "take this
litter of pups to the brook and
drown them"
AS Tatters was but q week old, he
scarcely realized the farmers words,
or that he was about to be hustled
out of the world into which he had
just come week previously. His
mother suddenly gave vent TO her
grief by series of yelps and howls.
"Won't you give me one ofthem2'
asked a kind voice, which Tatters
afterwards learned was that of his
master. II think that 1 might be
able to train him." said the same
voice, "to lead me about in my
wanderings."
Tatters found himself in new
hands. He had a dim recollection
of seeing his mother in company
with his sisters and brothers thrown
in a bag and carried away to the
brook. He was scarcely old enough
to realize the dreadful fate in store
for them, and besides, little dogs are
not gifted with as fine feelings as lit
tie boys and girls, and what would
have made you, my little readers,
break your heart with weeping,
caused Tatters but little sorrow.
After several weeks of training,
which consisted in learning how to
balance little basket in his mouth,
he was taken to business. Every
morning he started out with his
master until they reached certain
corner. Here they would sit from
morn until night. The poor sight
less beggar holding Tatters by lit
tie cord, while he like good, faith
full little dog, sat upright with the
little wicker-basket suspended in his
mouth
In fair weather many coins drop
ped into the basket, but on cloudy
or wet days business was not quite
SO flourishing. Then it was that
poor Tatters shivered with the cold,
and only the kind touch of his
blind masters hand and the soft
voice said, "Gnod Tatters," gave him
encouragement.
One day as he sat in his usual
place, little iiaxen-haired girl came
tripping out oione of the shops lead
ing a dog by cord. This dog,
Tatters obsei ed was not strikingly
good locking, n fact, he had seen
far better specimens of the canine
race pass him daily. What attract
ed his attenti, II most was the dainty
little blanket that enveloped his
form, and the beautiful collar about
his neck from which a tiny silver
bell jingled.
This dog looked disdainfully down
on Tatters, as he shifted the air with
his little black nose, as if to say :
"What an ordinary dog, to be sure,
to appear in public without blanket
or collar"
Not so with his little mistress.
From dainty purse she took forth
a glittering coin, and dropping it
into the basket said kindly =
"Here, pretty doggie, take this for
your master"
She lifted her own little pet in her
arms, and Tatters watched them
drive away in a handsome carriage.
"If was only like that dog" he
thought, with fine blanket and
and collar, petted by that lovely
girl, in place of sitting the whole
day, ran or shine, begging"
Never before did the basket feel so
heavy or seem to hurt poor Tatters
mouth as it did that day in which
the first seeds of discomfort were
sown. What miserable days follow
ed ! Days when Tatters felt as if he
would break the frail cord that
bound him and run away. He fiat
tered himself that should he do so,
l. L L