The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-04-02

os, h"oW, out ne's not man fC
take an advantage on any one. He
went through all the regulation tum
bles with as much decision as Won did,
"As didp thought you said did
first rate before"
"Oh, well, so you did-so you did
on tumbles you know. You tumble,
don't youp"
"Ilcad out your steed."
YES, sir, he went clear over the
head OF the talest machine We have
twice. Magnificent fallsl Last time
he went smash through that door carry.
ing everything before him. You motto.
Ell we had new door, didn't youf
But he rode around every post In the
hall before he qnit."
A new bicycle was now before me.
The other had been used up In the in.
terim.
"Try that one-foot business again.,
| tried 1t, and when he lifted the BIZ
cycle from above me l realized how
much person can forget in week.
"fou should have turned the wheel
IN the direction You arc going to fall .
he said in tone of mild reproof.
| "What do you do when Won know
| you are falling In three different direc-
tions?" l asked reproachfully.
After being able to guido the ma
chine around the room, standing on
one foot, the next feat is to get into the
saddle. A feeling of utter hopeless
ness seizes tho daring man who first
finds himself on this perilous perch.
But the secret of safety is TO turn the
wheel in the direction you are falling
and by and by you can run along with
the bicycle, step on the projection, and
slip into the saddle, while the apparent
ly unconscious machine whirls around
the room.
Whenever you begin to feel the least
conceitcd about your exploits the ma
lignant machine gives a series of mixed
up wobbles that bewilders YOU. while
You frantically turn the wheel right and
left, and at last find yourself on the
floor with the bicycle beside you.
And then another exasperatinp thing
is the advent of the small boy. JUST as
you are all perspiration, with suspen-
ger broken, buttons missing, collar un-
done, wrestling with the bicycle, a
small boy with long legs comes in,
Mnse,s ou' machine, hops on 1t like q
bird on a perch, folds his arms and
whirls around the room with pitying
glanccs at the fracas you are HAVING
Ihcn ne will wind in and out between
ihe pillars, like an accomplished skater,
ana again will, perhaps, stand in tho
saddle, or place his feet as high as his
head on the handle of the machine.
which acts all the while as If there was
no such thing as the law of gravitation
How | did hate that talented little
wretch!
"Now," said tho professor, leading
ont The !allest machine he had, "get in
10 the saddle here, while hold the BIZ
cycle"
would have fatty refused if that
hoy had not been present.
>"Placc your feet firmly on the tread
les and work as If yov were on the
road ] will keep tho machine from
falling"
Now don't let 20 of It,"
"Oh, won't"
SO we started deliberately around the
hall, ] pumping away soieinnly with
my feet, while he walked rapidly by
my side, holding the untamed steed
and keeping it perpendicular.
I "1.Ou can do it all right now if YOU
only think so," he said, on the fifth
round.
"Well, l don't think So" I cried.
| lyon hang on to this machine, or I'll
massacre you if l live after get down."
! "Ill not let go unless you want me
to-" and thus reassured we went round
the room eight times splendidly, al
though the small boy was grinning
about something. The horrible thought
nearly paralvzed me: Would he sud
denly let go. and leave mo to INV fate I
81 guess I'll get down, now," said,
tremulously.
| cheerlully, and when we wero half way
round my worst fears were realized.
| "lou're doing first-ratc; keep on
said the professor as he cody took his
seat, leaving inc on that mechanical
Beezebnb.
"lielp!" l screamed. "Somebody
grab this machinc!"
But the small boy laughed alond, and
the professor callously said, "Go on
go ahead"
drew mp my feet, clutched the han
dies convusivcly, while my hair bega,
to stand on end. The machine slowl,
stopped, then gently leaned over, will
me six feet from tho ground, and while
| shricked Cor help that came not, dowr
we came with clash like hundred
men in armor.
"Perfidions villainw l shouted
throwing of my vest which was now
split up the back, "preparc to die!"
"Why didn't YOU keep on"
"Why didn't l keep ON? Why didn'
you hang on?'
"Imean why didn't you keep OH
Wheel"
keep on working the treadles
lt was all yonr lack of confidence"
sit was all my child-like confidence
in you. Why didn't you hang on?'
"My dear and excited sir, for the las
nine rounds did not have hand neal
the machine. Ask the boy. You cal
ride all right, only yon had a touch O
stage fright. You see 1t was lack O
confidence"
Such was the case, and now ride III,
festive bicycle. LUKE SHARP.