The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-12
HAD LOTS OF FRIENDS
BY j. N. CARSON.

Leonard's velocipede, with its rub
Der tires, sent by his Uncle Tom for
his birthday. created quite d stir when
1t arrived After it was taken from
the crate all the family admired It's
perfect mechanism and its beauty, but
Leonard said nothing.
What do you think of it 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 iealousl" be said
rapturously.
The long hall between the dining
room and the living room was immedi,
ately turned into practice ground
Leonard'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.
4 think you can ride well enough
to take the wheel out of doors tomor-
row." Leonard's father told him at
the end Of the second day of train
ing.
4 don't want to take it out yet, Z
replied the boy. Il want to learn a
few tricks first" And he proceeded
to 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 bis
sensational appearance. He was GER
tain that his velocipede, or his bike, Z
as he chose to call it, would make
great impression.
Several Of the boys in the neigh
borhood were the proud possessors Of
velocipedes, but none of these had rub
Der tires, nor were they painted with
such beautiful colors and stripes,
Then, too, Leonard had been having
quarrels 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 velocipede before him
mounted 1t, 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 owE
doorstep small delegation was await
Ing him.
Hello, LEM" cordially went VI
from every throat.
'Hellol" answered Leonard.
Got new bike, Len?"
yep"
Gee, it's swell. amt 1t, boys
Where did you get it,"
from my Uncle Tom"
Does 1t 60 good, Len?"
Dandy" laconically replied Leon
ard.
bet you can't do no tricks
"Sure, / kin. Tricks ID easy" Leon
ard proceeded to do few Of his verJ
best ones. The spectators were prop
erly fascinated by the exhibition.
Say. Len, I'll let you ride on MI
hand car. II you want to. / didn'
mean nothin' that time when didn'
let you
Leonard made no reply 70 this oIer
ooh, Len, amt mad at you" came
from another boy. You kin come ant
play cowboy in our yard this after
noon IL you want to. / got some new
wooden swords. VIII you conner"
Sure I'H come" said Leonard.
"And you kin come to my movin
pitcher show without payin' no pins
Leonard spoke up third.
TAre all you kids goln' TO be good a
mef'' asked Leonard.
Sure, we are" they answered ii
chorus
well, said Leonard, Il was goin' Il
give all yon kids q ride on my ney
bike 70 be coed at me and let me pla,
in all the games. and things, Blu
you're all good at me anyway, 30 .
guess / don't have to give you no rid
on my bike"
OF be rode ct full speed, goinl
through the whole list Of bis trick
as he went