Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

Page 15 text:

But Jerry and the pup outlived the Most Prominent Citizen, and several more most Prominent Citizens. But never did they give up their job or fail to do their duty, although Jerry grew feeble and made many mistakes and the pup grew cross to all but Jerry. He never ran after or even noticed other dogs, except for one last unfortunate time. The Most Prominent Citizen at the time was a big man, very self important and with no sense of duty except to himself, but he did have a huge bull dog that was the terror of every one in town. One day on their usual way to town, the bull dog sprung at Jerry with a ferocious snarl. There was a flash of black and white, the dull thud of falling bodies, a quick sharp yelp and then silence. Like lightning the pup s teeth sank into the bull’s soft throat; deeper and deeper they went until the bull dog lay silent and rigid. Then rising, the pup gave himself a majestic shake and stalked to where Jerry stood. The latter laid a trembling hand on his head and looked appealingly at the Most Prominent Citizen, who did not seem able to grasp the situa¬ tion. He called to the bull dog, rolled him over with his foot and then as tho’ it had only just dawned on him what had happened, he turned to Jerry in a rage, “You!” he shouted, waving a fat red fist at him, “Your dog has killed mine, killed him, do you hear! You shoot your dog tonight or he’ll meet a worse death!” he screamed, his face turning purple. Then unable to say more because of the rage that choked him, he stamped into his office and slammed the door. Jerry stared after him and then at the pup who looked at him with his beautiful big brown eyes, then turned slowly and walked down the street, the pup following. The next day the town waited for the appearance of Jerry, and when he did not appear they were alarmed and sent a boy to his cabin. The door stood open and the cabin was empty but scrupuously clean. Once more the “Investigation Committee” met and sent out a small searching party. For four days and four nights they searched, but on the fifth night as one weary member was watching the bank of the Lagoon he fancied he saw the moon gleam on something white in the midst of a clump of bushes. Hurrying to the spot he parted the bushes, started, then he knelt and reverently removed his hat. There lay the pup, his black coat no longer glossy, his white ruff dirty and draggled, his beautiful eyes dazed. Beside him lay the rigid form Jerry; gaunt and thin from starvation, one hand resting on the pup’s faithful head. The moon seemed to show a half smile on the thin old lips. 9

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body, and wagging his long rat tail he came over to the bed. I guess somebody thought you looked like you ought to belong to me,” he said with a grim laught. “But we’re going to show em. Throwing off his coat and rolling up his sleeves with an energy that caused the dog to eye him in amazement and then slink under the table, Jerry prepared a scanty breakfast and dividing it in equal portions he put one on the table and the other on the floor, saying: “You and me are going halves now, and if you stick by me you’ll be the first one that ever did.” The pup cocked one ear and looked hard at him with big brown eyes, as much as to say, “You can depend on me.” . Later on in the day he shut the pup in the cabin and slunk down to his office in the Court House, where he plunged into his ponderous law books with such a vim that he did not hear the scratching of the pup on the door, soon after he had closed it. So on leaving he almost fell over the pup huddled against the door. He scrambled to his feet and looked reproachfully at him, as tho’ he tho’t he’d treated H)s partner meanly. It touched Jerry to think he would wait so patiently, so after they came down together and the pup had his own special corner in the office. But day after day they received no trade and day after day Jerry grew thinner and shabbier while the pup grew bigger and glossier. For no matter how little Jerry had to eat he al¬ ways managed to find the pup something. Until the “Most Prominent Citizen,” with that grim sense of duty ever weighing on him, called a meeting of the “Investigation Committee,” where they decided to put Jerry up as a candidate for Town Clerk. That fall he was elected Town Clerk, and the next and the next and the next. For years he held that position. That is, he and the pup, for they were never sepa¬ rated. The pup had grown into a handsome dog, above the average in size and beauty. His coat was black and glossy and the ruff around his neck stood out startlingly white. Every year his picture apeared on the posters with the injunction, “Vote for the Pup’s Master.” If the water bills were due, or if it was registration time, a notice would appear in the paper saying, “The Pup says please pay your water bill,” or, “It’s time to Register.” Around on public lawns signs were posted, “Keep Off the Grass; Beware of the Pup! ” Thus they became known all over the county as “The Pup and His Master.” “The Most prominent Citizen” took on an “I told you so expression,” and the Second Most Prominent Citizen took on an “I told you so expres¬ sion. The Third Most Prominent Citizen, who was no longer young but still had a sense of humor said, “It’s all the pup’s work.” 8

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By HOMER THOMAS (First Poem Award) Gypsy blood, gypsy blood, and all the world to roam, Gypsy blood, gypsy blood, the long road is our home, Oh, can’t you hear it calling, Love, a wild insistent urge. Thrilling with desire, dear, in a mad heart rendering surge? It’s wild blood, wild blood, it never can be tame. It’s wild blood, wild blood, in you it beats the same. Oh, let us heed desire, Love, to journey far and long, Thro’ many distant lands, dear, for the gypsy call is strong. Gypsy blood, it’s wild blood, it’s music to my ear, Gypsy blood, it’s wild blood, and you, the song, must hear; Together we will go. Love, we ne’er will be content. Until we see the world, dear, before our youth is spent. Gypsy blood, gypsy blood, the longing call is strong. And we are ready to answer. Love, and go the road that’s long. 10