Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-07-16
On q Bicycle.

Tue name was enough to tempt one to
invest, so | bought bicycle" and
anXiously smuggled it into the little coach.
house, ready for an opportunity of trying
its PAGES.
Being such revolutionary method of
going over the ground one naturally felt
delicacy about appearing in public until
able to perform with grace and effect.
Here was difficulty; privacy was re.
quired, but not to be obtained. | had
learned skating upon ditch, riding in a
school, dancing in so many private lessons;
but velocipeding, how was 1t to be attainedS
A garden seventy feet by thirty, with
narrow gravel paths at right angles, was
certainly not adapted and, besides, in
quisitive people could have looked over
the walls. One could not do it in q room,
what was to be doneS
had that horrible vehicle in bed with
me for nights. There was complete re-
verse of circumstances; it sat upon me,
nightmare fashion, instead of me riding
it; dreamed of it, and saw myself ig-
ANONYMOUSLY dragged off to the station.
house for bowling my hoops upon the
pavement. | saw myself brought to ruin
by people thrusting walking.sticks in my
spokes. l was laughed at shouted after
hunted by mob of boys, who would
catch me, paddle hard as | would and
time after time sat up in bed in violent
state of perspiration, avowing that
would either burn or sell the thing which
threatened to be the bane of my exist
enCe.
Weeks passed, and the bicycle had no
even been looked at without shudder
when one bright, frosty night, about eleven
when taking my customary look out be
fore retiring, the thought occurred to me
why not try in the darkP"
Why indeedP Five minutes after l was
stealing down to the coach house, and try.
ing to smuggle the thing out, but the
doors would creak horribly, and the wheels
| grated upon the gravel. knew that AN
other sound would bring people, right and
left, to their windows, anticipating doctors
or tire-engines; so, hugging my enemy in
my arms, bore it to the ratings, lifted il
over, tearing my coat in the act, and then
followed it into the road.
We are to have gas our way, but al
| present 1t is under consideration and
upon this dark, cold night, as stood be-
side my vehicle, looking in all directions
cautiously as a burglar, suddenly ligh,
was thrown full upon me, and from be
| hind it grutf voice inquired
whats your little game?"
Game indeed it was no sport, but q
piece of serious earnest and it was only
with difficulty that induced police consta
BILE john DUrhead to believe that this was
not an internal machine, and that hi
might turn off his bull'seye and leave me
to my own devices,
The ground was dry and hare, %, how
hard l-and lifting the incubus once more
made the best of my way beyond the
last house. Pausing for breath, set the
thing down, straddled across it, settled
myself in my scat, and then,-well, then
went forward. very slowly, walking upor
the tips of my toes and taking the thing
along with me. knew l ought to give
myself a good start, thrust my feet upoI
the treadles, and then go along rapidly
| say knew all this, but that was all. /
| lifted one leg from the ground, inclined
that side; if lifted the other, the inclins
tion was but the reverse; and as to takinj
both feet up, 1 freely confess it, dare
not.
However, got on slowly with the thin
between my legs, telling myself that
was progressing fast; and chuckled as
congratulated myself upon the fact o
my being unobserved. At last, as tim
was getting on, l grew more daring, ant
made rush, performing wide curv'
which sent me into the ditch ON the left
while the next attempt sent me into tn,
hedge on the right.
Perseverance conquers in the end"
muttered, as | prepared for another try
and so went on until, conceiving that
had done pretty well for one night, ant
that even ii had acquired no skill hat
done something towards overcoming ny
timidity. l turned back and walked, o
or rather waddled, the instrument till
had reached the top of the hill, where
paused TO consider.
Should II Shouldn't II There was moth
ing to do but TO sit firmly and to stee
carefully and it would go down hill O
itself The maker told me that the taste
went, the safer. If meant TO learn,
must be a little bold. I'd a good min
TO let it go, and l walked 1t dow
a few yards. Why, even If did fal
/ could not hurt myself much; it wa
not like being upon restive hors'
and being dragged by the stirrups, an
that wasn't it, though only lihed m
!. legs for an instant TO touch the tres
dies when the wretch of thing wa
off down the incline. Mazeppa's rid
was nothing to it; the bicycle cycled, tn
wind rushed past my ears, and belieV
. shouted, Stop i'll " feeling for the me-
ment that was off at express speed the
there was a crash, a sudden halt, and {
J how hard and firm was that new road.
81 thought you'd get up to somethin
7 afore you'd done" said gruff voice, an
; once more was Illuminated at the O.
J pense of the ratepayers.
5 only groaned as asked the constabl
: to assist me in with my wheels of mi
. fortune. did not scruple about maxim
/ a noise now, all wanted was to get th
7 thing locked up, and to go and battle tina
+ large lump swelling upon my noble fore
head but believe the fellow was gr!1
ming when gave him a shilling.