Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-05


were sitting around the great oiu
stove in our shack at Pursley's saw
mill we were startled to hear, close al
the heavy slab door, q faint scratch
ing. followed by low, pleading whine.
II vas far into the night. The rushlns
wind had piled the snow high at the
north end of our shanty, and we' near
ing those sounds so nearby lost amid
the wild wind songs, looked at each
other in infeigned wonderment.
What" we asked, could be astir
on such a stormy night? Who so
unfortunate as to wander homeiess
through painless fields of snow?" We
should see; for we would not turn even
an enemy away on such night.
flushed, for a moment, grew the
wind outside, and we. silent and Won
dering, heard again that timid clawing
at the door and that pleading whine
fainter now and despairing. Big Joe
Dundy arose and opened the door.
With the snow which the wind blew
In, came a staggering, whimpering Ill
tie dog. Trembling and fear were In
his actions, and pleading in his Big
hungry looking eyes.
starvation in Tatters!" CALCULATED
Dundy. as he, shivering from the cold
blast, shut the ponderous old door.
Quickly we were on our feet and
eyeing our gift fra the wind" we
could tell by his looks that the day mad
been one of struggle for the little dog
He was so worn and exhausted ne
could hardly wag his tail. Just
strength enough left to lick, in grateful
obseuuiousness, the rough hands that
lifted him, now breathing painfully
from where he had sunk in a limp
huddle on the floor. Trusting him not
to bite, we placed him, covered with
ice and snow, near the warm old stove.
Looking at US just once with touch
of implicit trust in those big, tired
eyes, he snuggled close up to the stove
and became very quiet.
1t was not till the warmth OF the
fire had melted the snow from MS
tousled hair that we could tell what
sort of looking dog he was. He was
black all over, save his nose and fore
feet. which, were white. The scars on
his body told us palmer than simple
words that he had been "despised and
rejected Of men," But better times we
averred, should be the little vaga-
bonds; for we talking of him as he
slept, said that If he would risk his
from
his woeful mendicancy.
Jack Handel, who said the little
dog was the best formed collie he had
ever seen, went to the crude old
cupboard and brought out the frag-
ments of our coarse supper. Awaking
the dog, he placed the food temptingly
before his nose. But with a kind OF
listless sniff at the food, and linger-
ing lick at the hands that offered 1t,
the little dog, putting the power OF
thanks in a weary sigh, closed his
eyes.
Think it childish folly, but we talk
ed of him till bed time. And though
we knew that hated was a worthless
dog in the eyes of serious, tacitum
Daley, the boss, who lived with his
wife and little daughter in cottage
some distance from our shack, we said
that the little dog should stay with US.
Our home should be his home, pro-
vided he proved to be the right sort.
But If he turned out to be one Of those
shiftless, snarling ours, fit only for
prowling around peoples kitchen doors
and for killing sheep at night, we
would oust him out. He should have
no place with us.
After some "pastime discussion"
we, before turning in for the night,
named the wee dog "Tatters." There
perhaps it suited the looks of the dog
However, we found before Tatters had
been with US a week that there was
much of clear grit and honesty in him.
He did not, as we feared he might,
disappoint US; for thar warnt no
whitah dorg than him." AS we shall
see. His love to us was wonderful,
passing the love of man.
When we turned in on the night that
Tatters came to us, we, glad that he
was safe from the cold without, placed
some food near him so that should he
awake during the night he could drive
keen hunger away. But on the morn
ing we found the food untouched and
Tatters just as we had left him, asleep.
We believed that he was not "feelin'
prime" at all Though there was
much noise around him, Tatters did
not awake till we had had breakfast.
Doubtless he wouldd have slept longer
had not the boss, who came in to tell
us that work for the day would be-
cause Of the snow, be suspended, given
him a gently vigorous punch with the
toe of his heavy boOt-just to see how
he looked on his feet But Tatters
could not get up. He tried to struggle
TO his feet, but his strength was we'll
nigh spent. With a kind of painting
groan. he sank ba k upon the floor
and lifted his pleading eyes to ours.
For a moment the boss eyed him
thoughtfully.
He's mighty weak. boys" he said
turning away. He's thoroughly out
done; he'd have to fight for it if he's
to be your friend"
We found this true. For days Tat
ters would eat nothing no matter how
temptingly we placed it before him, OF
how coaxingly we offered 1t. Very lit
tie water would he drink; and ii seem
ed impossible for him to be so weak
and not die. There was nothing we
could do but watch the battle-"skel-
eton dog against skeleton death"
1t was the spirit of battle in Tatter:
that gave him the snuggest corner II
our shack We hoped he would win
the little Scared, collie dog! Anc
when work was again resumed at the
sawmill we took him over to Daley:
for we knew he would, while we were
at work. have better treatment in the