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

home, gave him a paper to carry. TIL!
pleased Tatters very much; and wher
he met one Of those "ornery dogs" OF
Ibis way home he did not condescent
to give him a cutting. After this Tat
tiers seemed overjoyed when we started
for town, for we usually permitted hin
to go, though we knew there would bt
a fight by the way should Tatter:
meet another dog. He, much to th'
postmaster's amusement, seemed very
disappointed If we, after getting the
mail, refused to give him a paper ol
lparcel to carry home.
One of the boys told the little cir
this, and she told her father. The boss
said: IF he'd learn to go after the mai
by himself it would be something tc
talk about, and something that would
be Of use"
And why" we said, Shouldn't he
learn? Were there none to teach him
the service? Wait moment"
One morning, while we were hur-
riedly eating late breakfast, Billy
Somers said, between mouthfuls OF
bread: "Fellows, I'd like mighty well to
hear from the homefolks and the girl
left behind me- and I guess there
are others who have a like feeling
But it'll be ten days before the mail
carrier comes this way, and things
are so on a rush here that not one OF
us, the boss says, can be spared to 60
So I'm going to send Tatters."
| Some of the boys. surprised and in
credulous. were not slow with remon-
strances. Suppose Tatters should lose
the letters?
Billy's determination was strong, and
our arguments made him the more
resolute.
After breakfast he hastily wrote a
brief note to the postmaster at Cross
Roads. in which he instructed him to
tie all the mail up in as small pack
age as possible and give 1t to Tatters.
Don't be afraid to trust him." he con-
cluded. I'VE believe in Tatters and
we shall assume all responsibility
should the mail be lost" He put the
letter in an envelope and calling Tat
ters out to the road tied 1t securely
about his neck.
"Tatters." he said. pointing down the
road in the direction Of Cross Roads,
go! go get the MALL" and he -four
ished a newspaper before Tatters'
eyes. Tatters not understanding,
bounded down the road and looked
wildly about him. Then, grabbing a
stick from the ground, he ran back and
laid it at Billy's feet. Again, Billy
bade him go, but Tatters seemed no
less bewildered. Time after time, Bill
ly urged him on: but Tatters was slow
Of comprehension still. Yet Billy,
stung by the good natured jeers Of the
boss. would not be outdone. Gradual
ly slowly Tatters began to catch the
intent of his words. At last he ran
far down the road, stopped and looked
back.
go, TattersI" shouted Billy coax
ingly, as he beckoned him on. Away,
in a steady. swinging trot, went Tat
ters, and Billy turned to us with tri-
umph in his boyish eyes.
We stood and watched Tatters un-
til he became a black, ever-moving
speck far away in the winding, dusty,
white road that led over the hills to
Cross Roads. Then, with lightsome
hearts, we went about our work. That
night We should, II all went we'll with
Tatters, have the mail.
When our work at the sawmill was
ended for the day, we, singing the
songs that brought twilight peace to
our hearts, made haste to get to our
shanty. AS we drew near we saw Tat
ters sitting in front of the door with a
soiled, white package at his feet. At
sight Of u.s. he took the package in his
mouth and came forth to meet us. He
had the mail.
We opened it and found among the
papers and letters, note from the
postmaster stating, first Of all, that
he should not be responsible If the
mail was lost. Next he told how many
letters and papers were in the pack
age, so that we could tell II any were
lost. and concluded by telling, in de-
tall how Tatters had made his err
rand known. Pleased at this. we
counted the pieces of mail to see II any
had been lost. Every piece was there
twenty letters and six papers.
We treated Tatters royalty! What
addressing, what caressing, and what
thank and praise and blessing" was
his! Even the boss, who was en-
crossed in his paper, would pause to
say "yes," when the little girl repeat
edly asked If he didn't think Tatters
the sweetest, smartest dog in the
world"
And that night after we had read
those letters from home and the "las-
sic sa bonnie fair" we, at different in
tervals, placed our rough hands on
Tatters' little black head and spoke
softly to him. No matter how bad he
got to be we should all be on the same
old terms with him.
All the while Tatters was with us al
the sawmill he went thrice a week for
the mail Each time, the postmaster
who thought much of Tatters, wrote a
brief note telling how many letters
and papers were sent, so we might
know if any were lost. Not once did
Tatters lose a piece. But once he
bloody and SCARED. came back with
muddy package of mail. We knew the
other dog would not rest well that
night.
AS time dragged slowly away at the
sawmill. .Tatters grew in wisdom ano
strength and into greater favor with
us. We taught him to ride horseback
and to double up in a ball and rol
down hill. And often after watching
him jump through hoops and dance or
i the bottom Of an upturned tub, we
would dress him up like 1.-The dog ir
trousers" and send him away to the
little girl, who said he was a really
truly show dog"
Besides. we often told in our letters
home Of Tatters and his numerous ac-
complishments. We told in detail o
how he went after the mail thrice 6