Democratic messenger., 1895-12-07
Mr.. and Mrs. BOWSer

the other evening when an expressmar
drove up and unloaded and wheeled q
big bicycle to the basement door. Mr.
Bowser was called down TO receive il
and when he returned to the sitting
room Mrs. Bowser inquired
Didn't the man make a mistake
There is nobody here to ride bicycle
1.-The man knew what he was about.
replied Mr.. Bowser with a bland smile
as he looked out into the back yard
"You-you don't mean"
"Go on, Mrs. Bowser-go on?
"Have you bought a bicycle?'
81 have bought bicycle 1t i;
pronounced bike for short"
"And you are going to ride it and
make a show of yourself at your age 2
81 am going to ride a bike, Mrs
Bowser, age or no age. Something
has got to be done for my dyspepsia,
and the doctor also says that the only
thing that will take the kinks out OF
my legs is to work the pedals. Exer.
else is what want-exhilaratine
exercise. A five-mile spin before
breakfast will make n new man OF me
in month"
"And you-you have bought bicy'
Gle" gasped Mrs. Bowser, as she held
up her hands in astonishment.
Call it bike, Mrs. Bowser. Yes,
have bought bike, and what OF iii
What is there to be surprised about 7?
Il thought you had bought every
foolish thing ever made and offered for
sale, but il seems was mistaken. II
there was ever grown-up man who
needed Il guardian you are the one
"Mrs. Bowser, are you talking to
me?'
"Of course | am"
"Then you want to remember who
| am. | not only run myself, but |
run this house. If I want to buy even
a balloon, it's nobody's business but
my own. | may be lunatic or an
idiot, but the general public hasn't
found it out yet"
"Well, go ahead, she sighed, "but
know just how it will turn out
"Yes, of course. 1t will turn out
that will gain about 10 pounds in the
next month and get some OF my old
enthusiasm back. | will now get into
my old suit and have little fun in the
back yard. | expect it will take me
couple of weeks to learn to ride the
thing, but I'm bound 10 get there
"And of course you'll lay it all to
me-"
Lay it all to you. Lay what all
to you? Mrs. Bowser, why can't you
look at things in sensible light
You talk as if | were a child. There
will be nothing to lay to you or any
one else. Instead of carping and
faultfnding, you ought to be glad
that am doing all | can to preserve
my health
Mrs. Bowser had nothing more Ia
say, and as she took seat by bacl;
window he ran up stairs to change his
clothes. Ten minutes later he had his
bike in the back yard. He at first
looked pleased and happy then he
looked anxious; then he appeared
doubtful.
Expect to get few tumbles at first,
you know" he said as he looked up at
Mrs. Bowser with a painful smile, "but
I'll get there in time"
Aren't you going to tie it up to
the fence?' she asked.
"For why?'
$50 you can get ON it, You'll either
have to do that or have some one hold
it. Shall / come down with the step
ladder?'
"No, ma'am, you needn't come down
with the stepladder. I'm Just leading
the thing around few times to get my
legs limbered up. When | want a
stepladder I'll let you know. Here
go"
He went. He had noticed several
different riders mount their bikes and
had figured on an easy thing. He
made a spring for the saddle, and there
was wild exultation in his heart as he
found himself safely seated. The wild
exutation lasted about half second,
or until Mr. Bowser struck the earth
with his head and his heels hit the
fence and the bike piled on top of him.
"Aie you hurt :? Are you killed y
called Mrs Bowser from the window.
"Do you want to tell the whole
town that | fell off bike?' growle,l
Mr.. Bowser in reply as he slowly
gathered his wits and his legs ana hi,
arms and got up and looked at her.
"But you might have broken your
neck"
"Bosh, The wheel hit something
in the grass. Everybody expects a
a tumble or two. A fall like thai
wouldn't hurt baby. Haven't you
got anything to do but sit there and
watch me?'
"ls it any harm to watch yon?'
He didn't say. He lifted the bike
up. carefully examined it to see if il
had hind feet to kick with and then
conducted it twice around the yari 10