Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-11-13
THE DOG WITHOUT A NAME.
A Romance of Friendless Canine and ,
Cotton Headed Girl.

A Romance of n Friendless Canine and
Cotton Headed Girl.
The public pound at Kedzie avenue
and Van Buren street was being white
washed A coat of whitewash at the
public pound is as much of a foreign
luxury as a cottage organ in atenement
house. The whole neighborhood is con-
cerned in it. Dirty-faced children play
ing house in adjacent ash barrels came
over and discussed the great public i'm
provement with the Imprisoned dogs.
Hardly had the first brush touched the
boards before one of the attendants
came out and drove the children away.
"You needn't be plagin' the city's
property and maxim em savage just
afore killin'," said the dog-catcher.
SIS they all going to be killed, Mr..
Man?" asked one cotton-headed little
girl.
"They certainly is, and people as
wants dogs had better get their face
open plenty rapid"
"Do you give them away, Mister?"
"Naw, we sell 'em-GiS-"
And perhaps the dogs knew and heard
it all.
The hour set for the killing was 5
o'clock and already the charcoal was
heaped up in front of the big air-tight
death kennel. Some of the dogs be-
guiled away the hours before the mas
sacre by fighting in vacant corners
others slept, and many pressed their
black noses against the bars and whined
out calls for help destined never to be
heard. In the great low-roofed den were
pampered pets and fashions follies,
skyes and settlers, coaches and collies,
thoroughbreds and tramps, mastiffs and
mongrels, and one that whined apart
just plain dog, without friend and
without name.
Perhaps when night fell and the dogs
were all dead many childish heart
would be bowed down in its first sor-
row, and many a darling head pillowed
in tears. For days after the killing
some little elfin creature would wander
about companionless. There were kind
words, remembrances, for all except
the dog without a name. He had starved
alone; he could whine alone; he could
die alone
All day long people came and went
from the pound Some were looking
for lost pets and some buying the lease
of life of the dogs doomed. All the
long day the dog without a friend
watched the procession come and go.
Often he heard a masters kindly greet
ing and the glad bark of his freed com.
panions. Then he trotted up and down,
and peered through every crevice. He
looked pleadingly into the faces of the
passers,by and whined for look Of
recognition. But he was just plain
dog without name, and he had nc
friends.
All day long the little cotton headed
girl remained playing in the gutter
across from the pound. She watched
every visitor and ran after every liber
| ated dog. Then she would steal across
to the pound and peep in through a
creyice in the main kennel 1t was
o'clock, and the charcoal fires in the
pound had been lighted. There was {
soft rap on the door.
The little cotton-headed girl was
there.
30, Mr.. Man, l want to buy my dog
before he's killed"
"Hello! little Miss Cinders. Wha
have you got there?" said one of the at
tendants, glancing at battered littl,
tin bank the child carried. She proud,
shook out it's contents, two plugged
nickels, four copper cents, and dozer
or more tin tobacco tags.
(which is your dog, little one?" sale
the attendant rather kindly as he hell
the child to the grating of the main ken
mel room.
''There he is; he knows me. DON
you see him lool1in' and cryin' up a
mep' and the tiny index finger touche,
a black nose pressed against the bars
1t was a dog without name and with
out a friend.
"What an ugly little brutel" said tn,
attendant as he pulled the dog out.
Here, little Miss Mudpies, you ma,
have him this time, but if he gets il
the wagon again he's gone. Take you
pennies and vamoose."
When twilight came the little cotton
headed girl could be seen across iron
the pound talking to the dog. "Do yo
know" she said to him, 1--WE all of u
looked in an picked out dog an calle
it ourn, and picked out you, cause yo
was so brave-like an knew me righ
away. My names Phebe and I'm goir
to give you to the Alderman, cause yo
look so wise an handsome"
And when twilight fled like butter
fly, brushing the gold from its wing, tn
Alderman barked from tenement allie,
where his mistress lived. He ha
found friend and a name. -Chicag
I Tribune. Il