The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-06-27

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 proppeC
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 it was not easy to start
again along the hot, dusty road.
For the moment | almost decided
not to go on to the few cottages by
the roadside where some of my old
people lived.
was just beginning to feel
ashamed of myself, and trying to
shake off my laziness, when looking
down the road my eyes rested on
most extraordinary object.
Was it reaping machine running
away with bath chair? Or some
terrible instrument of torture, being
conveyed to the museum in the town?
Or just a mangled heap of tricycles
being towed slowly home?
l gazed and gazed till my eyes were
dazZled. and still slowly, ponderOusly,
the strange object advanced, hidden
now and then by a cloud of dust or
a 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
yient bath chair. An old man worked
| the tricycle., the Precipitation pouring
down his face, while his wife sat in the
chair with look of awed delight on
her face.
They did not look around them, but
gazed steadfastly in front as they adj
vanced slowly up the hill.
When they had disappeared in the
distance | tried hard to recall where |
mad 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.
I had missed my way one day, and
stopped to ask for drink of water at
their cottage.
SEEING my bicycle, l determined to
follow this old couple, and learn the
history of their wonderful machine.
They were sitting N the little kitch
en- when | arrived, the old man tender
ly 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 power to stan, and she maur
bide fggin Qytng) or sittin' a day
long. But Use a rash (strong) auld
man, and | made plan, and yam day |
bought an auld tricycle., and fixed her
chair on t front, and moo she can
gang GOT 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 ridin'."
| hardly wondered that "all the la
dies and gentlemen" turned to gaze in
amazement at the strange machine
and its owners, bu: | could not say
word to mar their intense pride and
delight in the precious tricycle., al
though | had a great fear that some
day they would all come to grief to-
gether.
When we had fully discussed the sub
iect of the tricycle., ! asked if they
would like me to CONF and read to
them sometimes. Old VOLTS face
clouded at once. Its lang time syne
Use Opened t Bulk, it's liggin' Dying
on t parlor table with foower pot
on 9 top!" he said, bitterly.
aye, Jawseph," his wife said, gen.
tly, sit wad dae me guild tae hear bit
o t Bulk vance MAR"
'Weel, Anna, if thuo wants thoo
SHALL her husband said. more gently.
While he fetched il his wife told me
pitiful story. "Jawseph did gang reg
ular tae t chapel two year syne; but
van day ther COON a minister wha'
lraiched that t Bible were not a the
Word o. God, and Jawseph he's sair