Smyrna times., 1897-07-28
FATE OF THE UNHAPPY FIFTH
WHEEL OE A WAGON.
BY ALBERT BIGELOw PAINE.

tJ AOHS Ilne ago the wagon had
nVe wheels. Why this was so it is i'm
-posslble to tell, for the fifth wheel was
OF no service OF benefit to the wagon
ana by and by became very unhanpv
because of its purposeless life
One day, when it heard for tbo fret
tlme the expression 'As useless 90
nth Wheel" it became still moro 10
pressed, and resolved to escape from
so poor an existence.
1t confded its resolve to the otbor
Wheels, who only laughed and advised
1t to let well enough alone, and prnm.
phngly wished that they might ex-
change places with one who had 50 H.
'le OF hard labor and responsibilitv
Inc next morning, when the farmer
came to grease the axles before settino
out to the field, he took off the wheels
one at a time and stood them AGAINST
a large tree which grew at the ton Of q
long hill. When he had reached and
oiled the fifth axle and turned to re-
place the wheel he cried out in alarm
lor he saw 1t some distauce down the
iong hlll' going at a very rapid gait
lie set out in hasty pursuit. bnt the .
H!th wheel went faster and faster. and 8
when he reached the button of the hin !
"nere there was bend in the road If 8
had disappeared entirely. He looked t
everywhere for it, but it was not to he r
lound' and he finally returned to his II
WORK declaring that he was glad TO he a
rld OF the thing anyway.
Alas, said the wheel, 81 am either Al
cared or dispised by all, " and it bur- 6;
led on faster and faster, hoping TO find b.
'ome deep river at last into which if N
night plunge and be forgotten. &C
by and by it passed some travellers pl
'ho stared at it moment and then W
ave chase. People ran out from tbe sh
ouses and joined the pursuit, also wi
oSs that overlook and ran beside if pc
II some distance, barking and snap- We
ing. But all of these it left behind dil
nd went on and on. tn
The next morning when the yillape CT,
rpenter came to work he found q lilo
lrlous wheel caught between the nm lo1
ghts OF fancy grape arbor he was til,
hiding for the Mayor. None of the BILE
9lghbors had ever seen a wheel like II bal
'lore' and after discussing the STRANGE the
tar with them for several days. the cos
rpenter gave it to his son, who was of
an inventive turn of mind. cap
You may do what you choose with bat
he said; sit is of no value that
see. Then the wheel was very
d again, for it seemed the same old
'ry ofluselessness. Hal
6ut the carpenters son took the
eel and studied over the matter r
was well made, and there must be IA "a
nethlng he could do with it. One road
he fashioned an axle to 90 throuob from
ana attached seat that extended delp
we 1t and all the neighbors laughed tbn5, tbte
his funny efforts to balance himself sold
this curious affair. So the next ad
. ne studied again, and by and bv % 10
lie, another wheel something like if
put the two together, with the A
between. Then the neigbbors to I
shed again, for this vehicle was purp
ut as hard to manage as the other Cous
az tne carpenters son persisted him,
improved upon his invention. and The
tised riding it daily until finally adds:
neighbors came out to admire and eral
leer him when he made an unusual- effect
lceessful attempt. Then by and bv and
came to him to have made Others at CT
~ "n" soon there were many of Smyr
curious vehicles to be seen in the
ge' while the carpenters son was G
tly honored.
d meanwhile the dispised wheel HALF
become very happy, for instead of
the fifth wheel of a wagon it had For
ne the first wheel of the very first Grand
lie in the land. falo. A
all of this, have said, happened road
ago, but the bicycle, and the ex- from a
- 40 uSeiess as NTH wheel, and rt
iI "ilonS US TO TINS day the 70
Tcan WOmea's home Journal sold or
Of To ..