The Velocipede Expedition Of Playfair And Puggings.

would learn to paddle easier . Finally , it was agreed upon that the velocipede , with a donkey attached , should he in waiting for them , a few miles onto ! the town , on a specified clay , if the weather was favourable for a peregrination . The clay fixed upon came , as all clays ' will come , in clue course , the weather was all that could be wished for , ancl the two gents set off , ancl soon reached their destination . The machineto which the donkey was yoked by a novel

, contrivance , was ready in waiting , in charge of a ragged , unwashed lad , whoso presence they first became aware of by seeing a pair of dirty bare feet sticking up in the air at a considerable distance above the ground , and a little further inspection showed the nature of the phenomenon , ancl that an additional elevation had been obtained by the help of a milestone , on the top of which he was standing on his head . On seeing them approach , however , he dismounted

from his p > edestal , and pulling his unkempt forelocks by way of obeisance , he stood right end upwards , to receive any orders they might have to give him . It was deemed advisable to dispense with his presence , and Mr . Puggings advised Mr . Playfair to give the lad a shilling , and to dismiss him for a time , which that gentleman did at once , telling him to be sure to return in two hours to resume his charge again ; and the lad departed , whistling all the way he

went , for , like the " handsome milkmaid " mentioned by good old Izaak Walton in his "Complete Angler , " "he had not yet attained so much age and wisdom as to load his mind ivith any fears of many things that will never be , as too many men often do . " Nowthe place which the two fviendshad chosen for their first operations was a rather flat and comparatively smooth country road ; it was very wide , and along

one side ran a deep , broacl ditch , the bottom of which was covered in summer with the blue-flowered brooklime , and between the road and the ditch was a pleasant looking wilderness of grass ancl broom , and whin ancl bramble bushes , and on the other side was what the farmers called a tolerable hedge , the kam or earthwork foundation of ivhich was overgrown with primroses , daisies , and other wild flowers . It was not , under ordinary circumstances , at all unadapted for the purpose to which our friends , the Mr . P . ' s , intended to put it . " Now what are we to do ? " asked Mr . Playfair , looking rather puzzled at the machine .

" Get into it , I should say , " replied Mr . Puggings . " Yes , yes ; but how shall we ride ? Which inside , ancl which on the saddle , or pad , or whatever they call it ? " inquired Mr . Playfair . " Oh , you must have the post of honour , of course , " rejoined Mr Puggings , settling the question as he spoke by getting inside . " Ah—hunt—well , yes ! Then I suppose I might as well get up , " said Mr . Playfair .

" Certainly , " replied his friend inside , who felt himself safe and all right . Now Mr . Playfair found that it was one thing saying , and another doing it , for every time that he attempted to mount he either slipped his foot , came over the other side , or nearly brought the velociiDede over upon himself . He got up at last , however , and no sooner had he done so than he discovered that the reins of the donkey were wrapped round the neck of that animal , ancl

consequently one of them must dismount to get them . It had not , in fact , occurred to either of them until that moment that the donkey would require driving . Mr . Puggings courteously dismounted , and handed the reins to Mr . Playfair , who , from their positions , was the only one who could use them , ancl he was not very keen of the job . Mr . Puggingot in againancl Mr . Playfair gave a tug at the reinsand

gs , , off they went . The donkey did very well for awhile , and the tivo friends paddled away , and skinned their shins first-rate . But the donkey seemed to have been used to a good deal of its own way , ancl seeing a fine flowery thistle growing on the opposite side of the ditch , took it into its head to have it for a repast , ancl so