The title is TOGO'S FIRESIDE REFLECTIONS by Elizabeth M. Ricker. During the 1925 Nome Serum Run to get Diphtheria serum to combat a recent outbreak that was heading to be something that could wipe out the population of Nome and neighboring areas. The then Territorial Gov. Bone decided that the serum they were able to find would go by train to Nenana and a musher would be sent West with the package to meet up with another musher that would leave Nome and head east somewhere around half way. After Leonhard Seppala and his team lead by the famous 13 year old Togo set out on the trail the plan was changed to a relay where teams would do shorter runs and hand off the package to the next team thus cutting the transit time by eliminating the rest periods. The dogs still got their rest in, but, while they rested the package was already in the sled of the next team going down the trail to Nome. Leonhard and Togo did not have a short run of 50 miles or less ... their part was much longer, my memory wants to say it was nearer to 200 miles, maybe more I am jus sort of foggy on it right now. Togo finally gets the credit he deserves as the result of a Disney+ movie that has been streaming since third week in December 2019. TOGO movie trailer >>>
There is also another movie that was in the theaters a short time ago called THE GREAT ALASKAN RACE that tells the same story in a different way. THE GREAT ALASKAN RACE trailer >>>
The book is written from the dogs perspective and in what Elizabeth puts to pen as Togo's words. Seppala and Ricker enjoined into a partnership when Seppala brought Togo to her and put the elder adventurer to stud. He lasted about two years before time caught up to him. I will type in the last page of the book for you to read. The writing and vocabularies from that time period was so much better than most of what is written these days. There is a line from the movie goes something like this, "you are putting the lives of children into the hands of a stone age technology". The fact still remains that there is no other form of land transportation using animals for locomotion that traverses more miles in less time than the Alaska Husky sled dog team!
The Last Page of Togo’s Fireside Reflections
Now I think I have told you all there is to tell about myself and I have also tried to show you Leonhard as he is. I could not tell you about my life without including him in the greater portion of it. We have been inseparable–have weathered many a gale together. As you know, the time has come when it has seemed best to Leonhard to leave me here. I dare say there will be many who wonder why. Perhaps he and I alone know that, but they will ask you, and I am going to tell you so that you may explain to them.
It is hard to admit that I am too old to be of any use to him, but it is a fact. He would not bring me out again and he knows that I am better here. If he left me in Alaska someone might drive me, and drive me harder than I could stand. It would not be a very pleasant way for me to spend my old age. You may rest assured that he would not have left me here without much thought, and he knows that though he has gone back to the great tundras where they are waiting for him,and possibly to make more history and to do more big things, I shall not have forgotten him. Everyday I shall look up the road watching for his return–watching for the team with Leonhard on the runners of the sled, his familiar voice calling “Gee” to the leader, who will turn the team down into the lane and bring him home to me.
You will think that the hardened old lead dog is growing sentimental in his old age. My throat does feel lumpy and my eyes are blurry. Maybe because it has grown so dark. I'd rather think it was that. Anyhow, I am still game. Leonhard’s judgement has always been best, and I hope that you will understand when I say that he is still the boss. I know, too, that there is a little corner of his life left here with me. Best of luck to him, that Pal of the trail!
If you are interested Elizabeth M. Ricker also wrote a biography of Leonhard Seppala called SEPPALA: ALASKA DOG DRIVER. Here is a link to the Amazon page for it >>>
https://www.amazon.com/Seppala-Alaskan-Elizabeth-M-Ricker/dp/1437490883/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1589203305&refinements=p_27:Elizabeth+M.+Ricker&s=books&sr=1-1
