The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01
Off and on a Bicycle.

supposed 10 DC Uno enQ OIL nlID, 30 lar as
the world in general was concerned, but
now it is only the signal for everything
he ever said, did, or wrote, to be dragged
from the obscurity of private life and
spread out as delicate feast before
ghoulish public. Therefore no one will
be surprised at hearing more concerning
Aristarchus.
Soon after his return from the West,
Leander began to importune his father
for bicycle but Arstarchus refused on
account of his youth, as he was now only
thirteen. But the entreaties of Leander
having put into his fathers mind the
thought of bicycle, the thought soon
grew to desire, and the desire to reso-
luton, which was ere long announced to
me in an interrogative form characteristic
of Aristarchus.
Don't you believe, Cordelia, that
bicycle would he the best thing to keep
up my health You know the doctor
said l must live in the open air as much
as possible, and bicycle does not cost as
much as horse, and requires neither car
riage, barn, nor food"
" Judging by your friend Dobson's ex-
perlence, they consume large amount of
clothing and incur some doctors bills" l
replied. "Mrs. Dobson told me the
tailor's bills nearly drove them into bank
ruptcy, and you know he sprained his
ankle at one time, and put his shoulder
out of joint another time"
"Oh' but Dobson was always reckless,
and then he didn't understand how to
manage the thing" said Aristarchus, in
tone that implied measureless superiority
over Dobson.
made no opposition, for saw plainly
that bicycle was predetermined addi-
ton to our modest establishment, against
which | should strive in vain.
When the steed arrived, Aristarchus
made his first attempt in the back yard,
and we all gathered at the door to share
the sport. 1t was in the early days of
bicycle riding and bicycle suits were I'M
known, 80 Aristarchus wore his usual
business suit. He seemed to find some
difficulty in establishing balance be.
tween himself and his steed, so Leander
proposed to walk in front and lead the
animal, but was sternly ordered back by
his father, who then discovered that Mi
randa Dorothea was seated on the little
wheel behind, in smiling expectation of
ride, and she had to be dislodged AS
she got off, the thing started up unasked,
and went halfway to the front gate, and
suddenly collapsed and lay fat on the
walk, having thrown Aristarchus into a
group of rose bushes, from which he
presently emerged with zig.zag red lines
crossing his face in token of his en-
counter.
"That was neat one, father" cried
Leander. "You didn't expect to lie in
bed of roses though, l guess. Was it
soft 2"
"Stop your nonsense" growled Arts
tarchus. "Of course fellow can't ride
when his whole family are grinning at
him."
He would not be persuaded to try again,
though Leander offered to tie him on with
a rope, and Miranda Dorothea assured
him that he would not tip off if he rode
the little wheel
After this he took his rides by himself
in the comparative seclusion of one of the
back streets, and according to his verbal
reports he was fast becoming skillful
rider; but to Judge from the dilapidated
the "bosom of his family" he was &C.
quiring his skill in a costly manner
Sometimes he came home minus hat
bOtnotluo6 WIFI IOrn COhu, bOmeUlIn6e
with ragged pants sometimes he came
home with lame back, sometimes with q
lame leg, and sometimes with black eye
whether he came home covered with dust
or encrusted with mud depended entirely
on the weather and the consequent condi
tion of the streets. But he was never dis
mayed or discouraged; the power of en-,
durance and the cheerful pluck of the
man would have done credit to the hero
of dozen battle-felds.
One morning he announced that he
should no longer confine his perambula,
tions to the back street, now that he could
ride 80 well; he would venture up Broad
way. As he had the very day but one
before demolished new business suit,
may be pardoned for not feeling much
confidence in his ability to make a credi-
table appearance. He wore on this occa-
sion new summer suit of navy blue fan
mel, which was very becoming to him
and l felt an excusable reluctance to hav
ing it reduced to paper-rags so soon. He
started out finely and rode seve raj blocks
when he saw Mr.. Marsdon approaching
and as he attempted to turn out for him