The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01

projectile which had so suddenly been
thrown into his pathway, he recognized
with surprise his former pastor and pres
emit friend, and anxiously asked if he
was hurt.
"N-no, n'not much" replied the fallen
hero with a sickly smile. 81 see starry
visions, and might fancy that 1 had been
projected into the armament, were it not
that feel solid earth beneath me the
milky way cannot be made of concrete,
can Il ?"
Not that | am aware of |" replied
Mr.. Marsdon, as he rescued the bicycle
from the gutter and led it to Aristarchus,
saying:
Can l assist you to mount ?"
Not yet, my friend as l remarked
before, | feel the earth but too plainly
beneath me-and my blouse is short.
Would you have the kindness to step in
somewhere and borrow an overcoat to
cover my retreat 2"
Mr. Marsdon went off in a roar of
laughter, but soon returned, and throw
ing an overcoat over the shoulders of his
unfortunate friend, assisted him to rise.
Aristarchus led the bicycle home, and
when he came in and took off that over
Scoo oho obdi bCu W RO up l. uluu u
say one word. / couldn't laughed and
| laughed, and / continued to laugh. /
laugh now when think of it.
For some weeks after this exploit Aris-
tarchus patronized the back street until
he regained his confidence, and on one
fatal morning again started up Broadway.
He did not notice that l hurried on my
wraps and followed him. l was not very
anxious to see him ride, but if he was to
be thrown off and his clothes demolished,
l meant to see how it was done. And
saw. He went finely for quite a long dis
lance. and l was beginning to think Ihad
better not prolong my rather long walk,
when saw our minister's wife coming.
She was tripping lightly along, followed
by her big Newfoundland dog, and carry
ing in her hands chrome ready for franz
ing. As Aristarchus neared her, he lifted
his hat gracefully but in bowling to her
he failed to notice large stone that lay
before him, and the bicycle crashed against
it, sending Aristarchus head first toward
Mrs. Carter As she saw him coming she
instinctively held out the picture to
shield herself, but his head went plump
through it, like a circus acrobat going
through a papercovered hoop, and hit
Mrs. Carter with such force as to knock
her over. She fell on her dog, who
growled and barked while his mistress
screamed, and a couple of street boys
yelled "stop thief" The dog extricated
himself; and rushing at Aristarchus
grabbed him by the pants, and by the
time l reached the spot, Aristarchus, with
the chrome standing out about his neck
like very esthetic and new-fangled yoke,
was dancing wildly about in vain endeav-
ors to free himself from the teeth of that
dog. People were rushing to the spot to
see what was going on, and there was no
lack of assistance, so Mrs. Carter was
soon on her feet again, and the dog was
quoted, and Aristarchus ceased to be the
central figure of the chrome, and the ju-
dicious arrangement of few pins where
the dogs teeth had been at work soon put
him in a condition to start for home 1t
only remained for him to pick up the
pieces of the bicycle. l suggested bor-
rowing basket to take them home in,
but he gave me such look that did not
dare to repeat the suggestion. That night
Aristarchus told Leander that he had de-
cided not to ride any more, but would
turn the bicycle over to him at once.
Leander gave one war-hoop, three cheers,
and turned two somersaults in token of
his delight, and then rushed out to view
his property. When he came back he
, gave vicious pull at Miranda Dorothea's
flaxen curls, trod on his fathers toes, and
, sat down with one leg of his chair on the
cats tail. That was all he said.
The next day was Sunday, and it so
happened that Aristarchus had agreed to
supply the pulpit. wondered what he
would wear. Shortly after breakfast he
asked meekly:
"Cordelia, could you find me pair of
pants to wear? ?"
Certainly" replied cheerfully, and
, going to my room with malicious salts.
faction, l dragged from the closet every
pair he had worn since he had bought
the bicycle. I spread out row of them
, on the bed Ispread pair on every chair
in the room. There were pants of divers
, colors and divers Materials some were
+ patched, some were darned, and some
, were still undarned. Then called Arts
tarchus to survey the ruins. AS he stood
in the midst of them l murmured softly
"Pants to the right of him
, Pants to the left OF him,
, Pants to the front OF him,
Torn, rent and sundered
) Who can their story tell?
Boldly they rode and well!
No two were served alike,
, Yet all on a big strike
Lay the six hundred!
|. g" Six hundred fddlesticks p growleG
Aristarchus.
"No; pants /" gasped and proceeded
Historically:
: "When can their glory fade?
o the wild charge they made
All the world wondered,
, Sad was the havoc made!
/ Pity the pants brigade,
1 Ragged six hundred"
Q But Aristarchus heard not he was try
ing to choose the less disreputable pail
{ for use
Q 81 think, Cordelia," he said at last, g.
i will try this pair of doeskin, they will lool
i the best with my broadcloth coat and il
d will hide the patches"
o "Doeskin is very treacherous material,
: suggested, and those were always
:. trife snug"
!, 4" l think may trust them for one oc
s casion," he replied. And he did.
Q All went we'll until Aristarchus sa
a down at the close of the sermon, when
4; observed him grow suddenly pale, and a
L that moment from the lowest depths O