| The Abernathy Boys - Temple, aged 6, and Bud, aged 10 - were two boys who became well-known celebrities, when in 1910 they took a remarkable trip of some five thousand miles roundtrip, in order to meet Teddy Roosevelt.
The Abernathy boys were part of a big family. Their mother was dead. Their father, Jack Abernathy, had gained some fame as a hunter of wolves. Nicknamed "Catch 'Em Alive" Abernathy he liked to capture wolves using only his bare hands. After Theodore Roosevelt went on a wolf hunt with Jack Abernathy, Abernathy was appointed a U. S. Marshal. In the summer of 1909, he let his boys saddle up their faithful horses, Sam Bass and Geronimo, to ride alone all the way from their home in Oklahoma City to Santa Fe. The following summer they then decided to go first to Washington, D.C., to meet President Taft and then on to New York City to see Teddy Roosevelt, who was going to be sailing back there from a safari in Africa. This book is the account of the boys' 1910. Starting out in April, they reached Washington D.C. by the end of May. There they did in fact get to meet Taft and were introduced to Congress. By this time, their story was being covered by many American newspapers. They then met up with their father and went on to N.Y., where they were greeted by thousands. They did in fact get to go out on a cutter to meet Roosevelt's ship as it steamed into New York harbor. In New York, the story takes an interesting development when the boys decide they want to drive back to Oklahoma City. Their father does in fact let them buy a car (they buy their Brush Runabout themselves, with money they've been paid by journalists for their story) and drive it all alone back home. Remember, this is in the very days of the automobile, when they required cranking and such! Bud of course will do most of the driving. But Temple also gets to take the wheel on long straight stretches, despite the fact that he cannot see over the steering wheel but has to peer through its spokes. | ||
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Plot & Themes Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Kids: - left in charge while parents away Period of greatest activity? - 1900+ Road trip Yes Subject of Biography Gender - Male Profession/status: Ethnicity - White Nationality - American Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes The US: - West - Northeast Century: - 1900-1920's Writing Style Book makes you feel? - encouraged Pictures/Illustrations? - More 6-10 B&W How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book |
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