The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-05-08
BY J. N. CARSON.

leonsrds velocipede. with it's rub
Der tires. sent by his Uncle Tom for
his birthday. created quite a stir when
It arrived After u was taken from
the crate all the family admired its
perfect mechanism and its beauty. but
Leonard said nothing.
What do YOU think OF II som" ask.
ed Leonard's father.
The boy came out OF his trance with
q deep sigh OF satisfaction. Gee, but
won't the kids all be jealous!" he said
rapturously.
The long hall between the dining
room and the living room was immedi.
stely turned into practice ground.
Leonsrd's father gave him some ex.
pert advice The boy learned quickly
All that evening and the next day was
devoted to hard. steady practice.
Il think you can ride well enough
20 take the wheel out OF doors tomor.
row." Leonard's father told him at
the end OF the second day OF train
ing.
Il don't want to take IL out yet"
replied the boy. Il want to learn a
few tricks first" And he proceeded
10 learn tricks that consisted OF riding
without holding the handlebars, riding
With one foot or holding with one
hand. and various combinations OF
these interesting performances
The next day was Saturday. All the
children were playing out OF doors
Leonard was now ready to make his
sensational appearance. lie was Ger
tain that his velocipede. or his bike"
as he chose to call II. would make a
great impression.
Several OF the boys in the neigh
borhood we're the proud possessors OF
yelocipedes. but none OF these had rub
Der tires. nor were they painted with
such beautiful colors and stripes.
Then. too. Leonard had been having
auarrels with some OF the boys lately
and now was his chance to even
things up
With an air OF conscious importance
he walked out into the street. trun.
ding his yelocipede before him,
mounted II. and rode away to the cor.
ner. then turned back. Immediately
the report was spread the Leonard
had the SWEETEST bike on the street
By the time he returned to his own
doorstep a small delegation was await
ing him.
Hello. Lem" cordially went up
from every throat
"Hello," answered Leonard.
Got a new bike. Lem"
Yep"
Gee. it's swell, aIn't II. boys1
Where did you get IT,"
From my Uncle Tom"
Does II 40 good. Lem"
Dandy" laconically replied Leon.
ard
Bet you cant do no tricks-yet"
Sure. kin. Tricks IL easy" Leon
ard proceeded 10 do a few OF his very
best ones The spectators we're prop
erly fascinated by the exhibition.
Say. Len. Ill let you ride on my
hand car. II you want to. | didn't
mean nothin' that time when I didn't
let you"
Leonard made no reply to this offer,
"Oh. Len. | Amt mad at you" came
from another boy You kin come and
play cowboy in our yard this after
noon II you want TO. | got some new
wooden swords. VIII you Gomez
Sure I'll come" said Leonard.
And you kin come to my movin'
pitcher show without payin' no pins.
Leonard" spoke up a third
Are all you kids goin' to be good at
me- asked Leonard.
Sure. We are" they answered in
chorus.
Well. said Leonard. Il was goin' to
give all you kids a ride on my new
bike TO be good at me and ut me play
in all the games. and til -, but
you're all good at me any@ so |
guess I don't have to give you ride
on my bike"
on he rode at full speed. going
through the whole list OF his tricks
as be went