The Cannibal King And The Bike

Tomascqbing was a warrior bold Who livedin the land oí Thiugnmjigger, - A canuibal islaud, I am tolci, Which some where on the map does figger. Now Torn was the king of this savage Ule, He ruled his suljeets with maiu and might,- And for fear his appetite would spiie, He roasted and ate one every uight. Not that a coon was a morsel rare, Or adaiuty preferred by Tomascobing; But that. in lieu of a white man fair, He was wont to declare was the next best thing. One day there entered the king's domain. A white man riding a bicycle bright; The man had traveled from far-ofE Manie With never a rest neither day nor night. For his mission was one of importance great- To circle the eartn ia the shortest time ;- He was already more than afortnight late, So he 'gau at the king in pantomime. To the east, he polnted from whence he carne, To the west, where ouward his pathway lay, As mnch as to say, if 'twas all the same, He'd like to hasteu upon his way. The king was amazed at the man and bike,- He thought the wheel au enchanted thing, And instructed his faithful henchmanMike To both in his august preseuce bring. When the man trom Maine saw he'd played to lose,- That a king full surely would take the pot,- He pretended as though he eouldn't refuse The inyitalion and minded not. So he rode up in front of Tomascobing. First bowiuï low over hishandle bar, Then circled around before the kiug And the people who'd gathered f rom ne and f ar. A moment or two he rode, and then He brought his wheel neur the monarch's side, And bv pantomime talk he annouuced again, He'd like to teach the king lo ride. Now Tomascobiug waswith vanity filled, - He could ride the thing thev soon would find!So he mouuted the wheel while the steed was stilled, By the Maiue man clutehing the saddle behind. lint why the story rehearse, my friends? We've all of us seen a beginner begin ; The king soon found that a bicycle bends The will, but he bravely resolved to win. And at it he kept for au hour or more, The Maiue man trotting alongbeside; And soon the people set up a roar - Tlieir king like an expert had learned to ride! Having finished his lesson, the man. f rom Maine Desired his wheel and essayed to go; The kiug looked at hini with great disdain, 'J hen called to his slaves in the plaiu below : "Ho ! off with his head and prepare the pot, And cook me a delicate, savory stew ; I'll eathim to night when he's boiliug hot - This bicycle surely will carry two." ♦The illustrations are leffc to the reader's imagiuation. Whatgoodisa reader anyway if he ean't imagine?