| And, ere the first The skates were Of their brief ab- Was left within the | faint gleam of day, safely stowed away; sence not a trace dusty place. |
THE BROWNIES ON BICYCLES.
"It seems," said one, "an easy trick, The wheel goes 'round so smooth and quick; You simply sit and work your feet And glide with grace along the street. |
The pleasure would be fine indeed
If we could thus in line proceed."
"Last night," another answer made,
"As by the river's bank I strayed,
Where here and there a building stands,
And town and country-side join hands,
Before me stood a massive wall
With engine-rooms and chimneys tall.
"To scale the place a way I found,
And, creeping in, looked all around;
There bicycles of every grade
Are manufactured for the trade;
Some made for baby hands to guide,
And some for older folk to ride.