The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-06-15

meal, she noticed how lovely the girl
was and said to the mother, Is your
daughter fit for anything?" The woman
replied, ''She is the champion lady BIZ
cyclist of the whole world. " "Oh, in
deed, said the queen, and, pray, why
does she not ride over the three tracks
and win the hand of the crown prinoe?"
Because, answered the mother, "she
is too independent to run after any
man" 81 never thought of that" OBJ
served the queen, and pulling ciga-
rette out of her case she fell a-smoking.
When the girl went out to wash up
the supper things. the queen asked,
"Oan't you persuade your daughter to
ride over the three tracks just to show
how superior we women are?"
eyes" replied the mother. but she
must have three things" ''Name
them, said the queen. "She must have
a pavilion built, opening on to the
tracks, from which she must start and
tn which she must return after each
round, without any one being allowed
to speak to her"
"Why?" asked the queen. Because
every man that speaks to her wants her
to speak to him, and she despises such
waste of time," replied the mother.
"Ohi' said the queen. Next she must
have three riding suits, one for each
track, and each suit must have a veil to
match, for her to wear when she rides :"
'Why?" asked the queen. Because
every man who looks at her and sees
how beautiful she is tries to make her
look at him." replied the mother
Huml'' said the queen. Lastly, l
must go with her, and SO must her three
uncles
"Why?" asked the queen. Because
she will have to ride SO hard that she
will wear out bicycle on each track,
and she must have always fresh one
ready, with an uncle to oil it and to
have it in good working order"
HAP said the queen. do you
know, my good woman, that I am
your rightful sovereign" Il never
thought Of that, replied the mother
'But it is so, said the queen, and l
command you to bring your daughter to
my three tracks this day week, when
everything you ask for shall be granted :"
1T shall be as your majesty COM
mands, !" replied the woman
So on day the mother and daughter
started for the tracks, and the girl
walked first singing as she went for the
very joy of life.
Presently they met man riding on
bicycle with his eyes shut. Good
morning, unclel' cried the girl But the
woman asked, ''Why do you ride with
your eyes shut?" And the man an
swered, Because I am so keen of sight
that l cannot help seeing my way
through the tiniest crack on the ground,
and if 1 keep my eyes open should go
down to the very center of the earth. ;"
"That is good, said the mother. Twill
you help my daughter to win the crown
prince for husband?" "That will l, .
said the man, for no girl ever called
me uncle before.
Soon they met another man riding a
bicycle with his feet on the forks.
Good morning, unclel" cried the girl.
But the mother asked, why do you
ride with your feet ON the forks?" And
the man answered, Because pedal SO
fast that skim over the ground, and
no one could get out of my way if put
my feet on the treadles. " ''That is bet
ter said the mother. "Will you help
my daughter to win the crown prince
for a husband?'' "That will l." said
the man, for no girl ever called me
uncle before.
Before long they met third man
riding bicycle, with his hands in his
pockets. Good morning, uncle,' cried
the girl. But the mother asked, "Why
do you ride with your hands in your
rocketss" And the man answered, 'TBe-
cause my grip is SO strong that I should
lift my bike over the trees and up and
down the telegraph posts if l used my
hands F" ''That is best, (" said the moth
or. will you help my daughter to win
the crown prince for husband?"
THAT will /" said the man, "for no
girl ever called me uncle before.
Now l have enough uncles," said
the girl. The next stranger meet
shall be my cousin" But they met no
one else, for all the world had gone to
the tracks. Only when they reached the
pavilion they saw smart young soldier
pacing up and down. Good morning,
cousin, cried the girl Good morn
ing, cousin" replied the smart young
soldier, and he gave her a hearty kiss.
How dare your cried the mother in
a rage. Cousins always kiss, replied
the smart young soldier The uncles
looked at each other and said, 1--WE new
er thought of that. " But the girl blush
ed and said nothing, for the smart
young soldier was the same handsome
young huntsman whom she had vowed
should be her husband. ''And now /
must leave you, said the smart young
soldier, and he marched off, whistling
1.-THE Girl l Left Behind Me-
Then they prepared for the first ride
and dressed the first uncle in crimson
suit and put ON him a veil of gold en-
broidery that glittered like the sun. The
signal sounded, and they opened the
pavilion door, and the first uncle sped
out like the wind and kept his eyes shut
till he came to the hedge that was 100
yards thick, and there he opened them
and saw his way through in tr1ce,
and SO, shutting his eyes again, he sped
round the track to the other door of the
pavilion.
Now they dressed the second uncle in
a suit of dark blue and put on him a
suit of silver flligree work that glisten-
ed like moonbeams. And he few out of
the door like bird and kept his feet on
the forks till he came to the pond that
was 100 yards across, but then he put
his feet on the treadles and SKINNED
over the water without even splashing
it. and SO, coming to the other side, he
put his feet on the forks again and few
around the track to the other door of the
pavilion.
The third uncle had a suit of black
velvet. but as there were no pockets for
him to put his hands into they were
forced to cut slit ON either side in