When you hear the name “H.G. Wells” what comes to mind? Most likely science fiction, right? But did you know though that Wells also dabbled in children’s literature? The Adventures of Tommy, published in 1929, is a witty account of a rich man who falls of a cliff into the ocean. A boy named Tommy, fishing for sharks, saves him. The man offers Tommy $1000, but the boy declines because his mother warned him to never take money from strangers. On the hunt for a perfect thank you gift, the man finally decides on an elephant, which he proceeds to ship to Tommy on a train, and upon arrival the elephant is named Augustus.

And all that Tommy did with Augustus and all the Augustus did with Tommy will perhaps be written some day in another book.

h/t Pitt Rare Books