Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-06-27
THE road from Burnthwate to the

THE road from Burnthwaite to the
nearest town was long and wind
ing, and on hot days there was very
little shade for some way. 1t was a
sunny July afternoon when propped
my bicycle against the bank and
leaned back luXuriously in the shad.
ow of the pine trees. under the
nodding foXgloves. could catch
glimpses of the distant blue noun
tains and the lake sparkling in the
sunshine, and il was not easy to start
again along the not, dusty road.
For the moment | almost decided
not TO go on to the few cottages by
people lived.
| was just beginning to feel
ashamed of myself, and trying to
shake off my lazincss, when looking
down the road my eyes rested on a
most extraordinary object.
Was il a rcaping machine running
away with bath chair? Or some
terrible instrument of torture, being
conveyed to the museum in the town?
being towed slowly home?
! ga2ed and gazed till my eyes were
dazzled, and still slowly. pOnderously,
the strange object advanced, hidden
now and thcl by cloud of dust or
sharp turn in the road.
1t reached my shady spot at last, and
could see that it was an ancient tri-
cycle of marvellous construction, to
which was attached a still more an
cent bath chair. An old man worked
the tricycle., the perspiration pouring
down his face, while his wife sat in the
chair with a look of awed delight on
her face.
They did not look around them. but
gGzed steadfaStly in front as they adj
vanced slowly up the HILL
When they had disappeared in the
distance l tried hard to recall where l
had seen the two quaint old people,
and it then flashed into my mind that
they lived in one of group of cottages
in a lane leading from the main road.
l had missed my way one day, and
stopped to ask for drink of water at
their cottage.
SEEING my bicycle, | determined to
follow this old couple, and learn the
history of their wonderful machine.
They were sitting in the little kitch-
en- when arrived the old man tender
" watching his invalid wife in anxiety
lest the ride should have been too
much for her.
The walls of the room were covered
with clocks of all descriptions, but
most of them had stopped, and some
licked feebly. as if wearing out with
age like the old matchmaker who loved
each of them so dearly.
A little expressed admiration of
some of the quaint carved oak cases
soon warmed the hearts of the two
old people. and before long | was sit
ting by them listening to the story of
their ancient tricycle..
"Anna Gamma dae without fresh air,
she pines and pines indoors, but she
has nae poower TO stan and she maun
bde liggin' Oying) or sittin' a day
long. But Use rash (strong) auld
man, and l made a plan, and yam day
bought an auld tricycle., and fixed her
chair on t front, and moo she can
gang DOT every day"
The gentle old woman gazed with adj
miration at her "maister" and looked
to me for sympathy. They both
seemed overwhelmed with his clever
ness and originality.
"An' a the ladies an gentlemen
look at us on T. road as if she was t
queen herself DOT ridn'."
l hardly wondered that "all the la
dies and gentlemen" turned to gaze in |
amazement at the strange machine |
and its owners, but L could not say |
word to mar their intense pride and |
delight in the precious tricycle., al |
though / had great fear that some |
day they would all come to grief to-
gether.
When we had fully discussed the sub
ject of the tricycle., 1 asked if they |
would like me to come and read to |
them sometimes. Old VOLTS face
clouded at once. "It's lang time syne
Use Opened t. Bulk, it's liggin' Qying) |
on T. parlor table with a foower pot
on { top!" he said, bitterly.
"Aye, Jawseph," his wife said, gen.
tly, sit wad dae NE guild tae hear Bit
o. T. Bulk vance mair."
"Weel, Anna, II thoo wants thoo /