Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 21 text:

Well, said his wife, I do wish there was some way of making him stop his dreadful noise. Come, 1,111 going ing it's late. And so Mr. and Mrs. Atherton, Jr., retired to rest. ' But the dog sat on his haunches, and continued to regard the moon most iixedly. No wonder he did so. Any one in his position would have done the same. In the first place, his name may have had something to do with the matter, for it was Thomas Ieiferson. Secondly, he was most unutterably lonesome, having no canine friends with whom to pass the time of day. But as he ,.....u:: E He was most unutterably lonesome. sat there, the sound of a confused scuflie reached his ears. Then a short yelp or two. Like a shot, Thomas jefferson departed to investigate. ' All the stores of the village were clustered together in one block, on the main street. Occupying one corner of this block was the only saloon the town contained, and directly opposite to itwas the grocery store. Back of the saloon was a large yard, and it was to this place that Thomas had been lured. It did not take him long to get acquainted, and he had a most glorious frolic. Indeed, so loud did the revelry become that the saloonkeeper was recalled from the land of dreams. He glanced into the yard, and, spying a strange dog, he at once recognized him as belonging to Mr. Atherton Adams, Ir.

Page 20 text:

The Fall of Thomas Jefferson. A sronv. BY ROBERT E. RICHARDSON. IILLUSTRATED BY S. JAMES PICKEI1-.1 N all probability, the man best known to the good people ot Gorton, and most respected by them, was Mr. Atherton Adams, Jr. He was a man of the most upright goodness, oppressively good, in fact. He was a church member, and a teacher in the Sunday School. He belonged to every charitable organization of which the village could boast. To add to his joys he had a most charming wife, also, he owned a dogg and thereby hangs a tale. Mr. Atherton Adams, Sr., was a man of about fifty. Born on a farm near Gorton, he had, as soon as he had made his pile, returned thither to spend the remainder of his days. To keep his hand in, as he expressed it, he had opened a law oflice, and employed his son, Atherton, Ir., as clerk. The position was a sinecure, for law was, happily, an almost unknown quantity in Gorton. The day had been most unbearably hotg but, as evening drew on, a cool breeze sprang up. Mr. and Mrs. Atherton, Ir., sat on the front porch, and took full advantage of the coolness. A stillness, unbroken save for the chirping of the crickets, settled round them, and the rising moon poured its silvery light over all. But, suddenly, the almost sacred hush was fractured by a series of long, melancholy howls. High, keen and piercing, they rose and fell in undulating cadences, finally shading off into silence. At the iirst sound Mrs. Atherton, Jr., grasped her husband's arm. O, Ath! she cried. What is that? Nothing but the dog serenading the moon, my dear, he replied calmly, although his nerves had received a severe shock.

Page 22 text:

Curse that man! said he. He's been trying- to run me out of town. I wonder if I can do anything to his dog? And so he retired to his 'bed to consider the matter. He .couldn't shoot the dog 3 that would bring the village authorities down on him ationce. But, and here an idea crashed into his brain, he might make the dog a drunkard! Brilliant inspiration! It'l1 take time, 'said he to himself. But it's a sure thing. I'll do it. Thomas Jefferson returned home early- in the morning, look- ing somewhat the worse for wear. He immediately proceeded to make up lost sleep. But in the afternoon, being thoroughly rested, he concluded to visit his friend, the saloon dog, once more. No sooner said than done. In less than five minutes Thomas jefferson was engaged in a game of tag with his new acquaintance. The day Was very hot, the game most exhausting, and Thomas soon longed for a drink. Looking about him, he spied a pan, containing what appeared to be Water. W'ithout a moment's hesitation, he took a long draught. That Water was the strongest that Thomas had ever tasted. It made his control of his legs rather uncertain, and it also caused him to think that 'Y home, was the best place arter all. So, with all the dignity that he could muster, he took his way thither, and spent the next few hours in retirement under the barn. Sad to relate, it required but that one nrst tipple to start him on the down-hill road. The next day brought a craving for an- other experience of those strange sensations. So he revisited the saloon, slunk home by the alley and again passed the day in retirement under the barn. Mrs. Atherton, Ir., gently Won- dered Where Thomas had been all day., and was answered by her spouse with the comforting assurance that he guessed that Thomas J. could take care of himself. And there the matter dropped. I But the mischief was only begun. Thomas liked his drink so Well that he soon took his walk twice a day. He drank more and more each time. I-Ie often came out of the front door of-the saloon, for the keeper allowed him full run of the place, and paraded' home by the main street. Dick Emory, general- do- nothing and wise-man of the village of Gorton, sat upon a cracker-