He often carried the alderman's wig when his master attended the town
meetings, and the mayor of the city, who was a good man, was much
taken with his intelligent face. So one day he said to the alderman,
"I have long wanted to adopt a son, for I have no children of my own;
but I have not yet been able to find a boy to suit me. That lad of
yours looks bright and intelligent, and he seems a well-behaved boy
into the bargain."
"He is all that you say," returned the alderman, "and would be a
credit to you should you adopt him."
"But before I adopt a son," continued the mayor, "I intend to satisfy
myself that he is both wise and shrewd enough to make good use of my
money when I am gone. No fool will serve my purpose; therefore I shall
test the boy's wit before I decide."
"That is fair enough," answered the alderman; "but in what way will
you test his wit?"
"Bring him to my house to-morrow, and you shall see," said the mayor.
So the next day the alderman, followed by Tommy and a little terrier
dog that was a great pet of his master, went to the grand dwelling of
the mayor. The mayor also had a little terrier dog, which was very
fond of him and followed him wherever he went.
When Tommy and the alderman reached the mayor's house the mayor met
them at the door and said:
"Tommy, I am going up the street, and the alderman is going in the
opposite direction.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119