American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-20
Bicycle Exercise.

dyke, hurryiftg into his wife's room,
"if y6a'll c6nle down id the yard I've
got pleasant surprise for YOU"
What is it?'' asked Mrs. Sp6open=
dyke. What have you got, a fit'rs6P''
81 know! It's new parlor carpet.
| That's what it is"
''No, it isn't, either. / said it was
something like horse. that ie, it goes
when you make it. Guess again"
.'ls it paint for the kitchen walls?"
asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, innocently.
mo, it amt, and it amt hOgshead
of stove-blackins, nor it amt a set of
dining-room furniture. nor it amt
seven gross Of stationary washtubs.
Now guess agairi."
Then it must be s6ne lace curtains
for the sitting-room Windows. Isn't
that Just splendidP' And Mrs. SpHCp-
Gndyke patted her husband on both
cheeks and danced up and down with
delight.
Its bicycle, thst's what it is,
growlcd Mr.. Spoopendyke. e. 1 bought
it for exercise, and LIN going to ride it.
Come down and see me-
"Well, ain'tl glad" calculated Mrs.
Spoopendyke. "You ought to have
more exercise, and II there's exercise
in anything it's in a bicycle. DO let's
sec it.''
Mr. Spoopcndykc conducted his wife
to the yard and descanted at length on
the merits of the machine.
In n few weeks | will be able 10
make a nile minute" he said, as he
stcadied the apparatus against the
clothes-post and prepared to mount.
g Now you watch me go to the end of
this path
49,
went head first into a flower patch, the
machine on top. with prOdigiOus
crash.
Hadn't you better tie it to the post
until you get on?'' suggested Mrs.
Spoopendyke.
leave me alone, VIII YEP" demand
cd Spoopendyke, struggling to an even
keel. .'Pm doing most of this myself.
Now you hold on and keep your mouth
shut. 1t takes a little practice, that's
all"
Mr.. Spoopendyke mounted again and
s :uttled along for four or five feet, and
Topped over on the grass plat.
:. hats splendid" commended his
wife. You've got the idea already. Let
me hold it for you this time"
'If you've got any extra strength
you hold your tongue, will yep growled
Mr.. Spoopendyke. ut don't want any |
holding. 1t amt alive. Stand back |
and give me room, now.
The third trial MIR. Spoopendyke am |
bled to the end of the patch and went |
down all in heap among his flower
pots.
..Thats Just too lovely for any
thing!" proclaimed Mrs. Spoopendyke.
:. You made more'n mile minute,
that timer
"Come and take il OFF, roared Mr..
Spoopendyke. Help me up! Dod-
CAST The bicycle!'' and the worthy gen.
5leman struggled and plunged like
whale in shallow water.
Mrs. SpoOpendyke assisted in right
ng him and brushed him off.
81 know where yOu make your mis-
AXE The little wheel ought to go
irst, like buggy. Try it that way 60
ny back"
"Maybe you can ride this bicycle
,etter than | camp howled Mr.. SpOop-
,ndyke. you know all about wheels.
What you need now is a lantern i'm your
mouth and ten minutes behind time to
&c the City Hall clock. If you had a
bucket of water and II handle you'd
make steam grind stone! Don't you
ee the big wheel has got to go frstP"
|
ndvke, but l thought if you rrac-
iced with the little wheel at first, you
wouldn't have so far to fall"
"Who fell?' demanded Mr.. Spoop-
ndyke. Didn't you see me step OFF?
trippcd; that's all. Now you just
1atch me go back
Once more Mr.. Spoopendyke started
a, but the big wheel turned around and
nd looked him in the face, and then
egan to stagger.
"Look QUIT" squealed Mr.. Spoopen-
vke.
Mr.. Spoopendyke wrenched away
nd kicked and struggled, but it was
no avail. Down he came, and the | I
icycle was n hopeless wreck.
"What'd ye want to yell fOr?" he
hrieked Couldn't We keep your
,easly mouth shut? What dye think
ARE, anyhow, a fog-horn? Dodgast {
lie measiy bicyclcr' and Mr.. Spoopen-
yke hit it kick that folded him up s
Ike a bolt of muslin.
Never mind my dear" consoled I
RS. Spoopendykc. Pm afraid the ex- {
else was too violent, anyway, and I'm {
lther glad you broke it. :"
81 s'pose So. snorted Mr.. SPoopen-
ykc. There's sixty dollars gone" !
-" Don worry, love. I'll go without !
'e carpet and the curtains, and the n
tint will do well enough in the kitch- t
/. Let me rub you with arnica.'
But Mr.. SpOopcndyke was too deeply i
Irt by his wfe's conduct to accept b
~ Office ut her hands, prcferring to I
IDish her by letting his wounds smart l
thcr than To get well, and thereby re- S
I'VE her of any anxiety she brouoh hit on 4
,rsclf by acting so outrageously under o