The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-19
THE DOG.
Tom w. Ross Had His Fathers
Pet

THE DOG.
How Tom w. Ross Had His Fathers
Pet Educated.
Thomas W. Ross. who began his stage
career nine years ago at the Boston
Museum, and h is now playing as
the star in Checkers" once had a dog.
1t was his fathers dog. But young
Ross had him. He got him because he
thought he could make some money out
of him.. And, unlike most people who
expect to make money out of a dog,
young Ross, or Tommy" as he was
called then, succeeded. And when he
had gotten rid of the dog, he made even
more money out of him. This is the
tale of the dog as told by a friend of
Ross:
Tommy one day was short of cash.
He wanted five dollars for a little pic
mic. He leaned against the window in
his father's room till his nose looked,
from h other side. like a piece of
putty, slammed and hattened against
the pane, thinking how he could sue
cessfully touch father.
Fathers pet dog ran across the yard.
There was something knowing in his
look. The knowingnesS gave Tommy
an idea.
Father" said Tommy. why don't
you hav that dog trained? I know an
expert dog trainer over in Sussex, who,
for five dollars, would each him a lot
of tricks"
DO you really think he could, Tom
my?" said father, and added, while
looking at the dog. That's a mighty
Your right, father And it's a shame
not to have him educated 1t would
only cost a FLYER to learn if he could be
taught anything. If he could, h
then. let his education continue. If he
couldn't be-why, you'd only be five out
and your conscience would be clear be-
cause of your having done your best by
the dog"
Father gave Tommy the five. Tommy
tool the dog. When half way across the
bay, Tommy showed the dog overheard.
Nobody in the Ross circle ever saw the
dog again. But Tommy had a nice time
with the flyer. And on arriving home,
he told his father CTommy, being I'M
like other good little boys one reads
about occasionally told a lie and didn't
lose any sleep over it, either), he told
his father that the dog had made a
great hit with the trainer, who, after
examining him, declared that he be-
lieved he could teach the dog to talk,
but it would cost Tommy's father ten
a week.
Cheap, Tommy, dirt cheapr' father
exclaimed. Tell him to go ahead and
II send you over every week with the
Il and when he gets along a little I'll
In over n talk a peek at him my
self"
The ten per came in very handy for
Tommy. And when Tommy told his pop
that the trainer didn't want anyone to
see him till the dog was proficient in
the art of speech, why, father
ed going. But, one day, weeks later,
whether suspicious of Tommy's new
clothes or just naturally anxious to see
a pet, he bade Tommy go to the train
er's with the weekly ten-spot and bring
back. the dog, at all hazards.
Up against it Tommy surely was, but
he went. And he came back without
the dog.
You see. father" he explained to his
disappointed pop, you see the trainer
rave him to me at once. He had fin
ished his training and intended sending
him back today"
could he talk" interrupted his faith
Yes. indeedy." said Tommy, why we
talked about his training, the weather
and all that and the other passengers
1 had him sitting on the rail showing
him off, proud like you know"
Father nodded.
HWhen suddenly he turned to me and
said in a loud voice: I say, Tommy,
how's the old MANI He meant you,
father, and naturally I was shocked to
hear him refer to you as the old man.
Naturally" said father. Good boy,
but go on"
WELL 1 replied, blushing a bit, for
I was confused by the smiles on the
crowd who had heard, father is very
Well"
And then he said-but father. I hate
to repeat it," 10,
well, father" said Tommy, casting
down his eyes. The said: Is the old man
still kissing the hired girl as much as
ever?'"
'sWhatr' exclaimed father.
Yes" said Tommy and looking his
pep in the face continued, with right
eous wrath. or a good imitation of it.
And 1 was so indignant at the scan
dalous lie, father. and so hurt that any
one should have heard it, for some
present were in my Sunday school class,
that 1 struck the dog and he fell over
board and was drowned"
My son." said father, patting sob
bling Tommy's head which nestled
against fathers breast, my son, don't
feel bad over it. 1 am proud of you
my son. You did quite right There are
enough liars in the world without
teaching the art to animals"
And then both. with a sigh of relief,
went their respective ways.