Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-08-13
A FRIEND OF MINE.

We called him Mascot from the
time we first had him. You see, we
thought it was great piece Of good
luck, my getting him, anyway. There
he is now, nosing the earth over
bone at the root Of that tall syringa.
Bright? Smart? Well, should think
so; not that he knows tricks; he
doesn't need any such superficial
knowledge. It's general intelligence
and wit that you want in a companion,
and great tender heart; eh? Well.
l should say so; and 1 don't expect in
this world to find more intelligence or
more loving heart than Mascot has.
You may laugh if you want to, but |
know what I'm talking about. You
think some human being is having
second existence in his form, perhaps.
Oh. no; no mere human being ever
loved in that way he's a dog, fast
enough. Come here, Mascot; give a
paw, sir.
Isn't he an uglylooking fellow, with
the rough hair standing up all over
him, not long enough to droop and
be graceful? He's one of the kind
that's SO ugly he's interesting. Scotch
terrier with few drops of bull-dog
blood. | fancy; no thoroug bred, you
see. But look at his eyes-strong and
true and loving that's enough.
We've been the closest of friends ever
since we met I'll tell you how that
was-or have 1 ever told you? No?
My wife says tell everybody two or
three times over, and that she has no.
ticed that all my friends are careful
not to mention the subject of canines
in general, lest l may begin on my
particular one.
Sit down, Mascot, and lean against
my knee He likes to lie with his
head on my foot, and like to have
him.
It's two years ago this spring.
was going down Clark street almost on
a run to catch a train. There hap
pened not to be many teams in the
street, for it was not yet seven o'clock
in the morning. l heard a sharp cry
across the WIS. 1t was SO sharp and
agonized that | stopped laevoluntarily.
On the other side was a group of bows
with dog in their midst. Though at
the Srst couldn't see anything dis
tinctly, yet l knew directly that the
boys were internal little scamps, and
that they we're torturlng the animal.
Another cry-there was smoke rising
from the center Of the group, which
was in a sort of alcove formed by two
buildings. forgot my tram and ran
across, dashing right in among the
ruffiana When l see q certain kind
of boy I'm ashamed that I'm man,
/ swear l ami
They had this dog-lie still, Mas
cot!-they had him muzzled, his jaws
tied together so tightly that the rope
which bound them had gnawei into
the flesh and was bloody, aud boy
was at each side Of his head gripping
fast the cord; two other boys held
him bv hips and hind legs, and what
do Won think fifth was doing? Hold
ing one of those Kerosene torches un-
der the dogs body. Yes, and | smelt
the burning flesh as | jumped on tn
psvemeut. The tortured creature
made terrible effort, but he wouldn't
have escaped if my coming hadn It
confused the villains AS II was, the
dog dashed at me ani leaped on me.
What an agony of hope and appeal
there was in his wild ewes! How he
cried in his throat; for he couldn't
open his jaws.
wanted to kill every boy there was
there. did knock one over the rest
ran away. The torch was left smok-
ing on the sidewalk; and then po-
liceman came along. sauntering from
somewhere, stared at the dog, and
asked if he vs. mad. ! shook my