"Now, my dear,"'said Mr Spoopendyke, hurrying up to his wife's room, "if you'll come down into the yard I've got a pleasant surprise for you."

."What is it?" asked Mrs Spoopendyke, " what have you got—a horse ? '' Guess again'" grinned Mr Spoopendyke. ■ " Its something like a horse." " I know! It's a new parlour carpet. -That's what it is."

"No, it isn't cither. I said it's some thing like a horse; thai is, it goes when you make it. Guess again." "Is it paint for the kitchen. wallas?" asked Mrs Spoopendyke innocently. " No, it ain't, and it ain't a hogshead of, stove blacking, nor it ain't a set ot dining room furniture, nor it ain't seven gross of stationary washtubs. Now guess again." " Then it must be some lace curtains for the sitting-room, windows. Isn't that just splendid?" and Mrs Spoopendyke patted her husband on both cheeks, and danced up and down with delight. "It'sa bicycle, that's what itis," growled Mr Spoopendyke. " I bought it for exer cise, and I'm going to ride it. Come down and see me."

"Well, ain't I glad," ejaculated Mrs Spoopendyke. "You ought to have more exercise, and if there's exercise in anything it's in a bicycle. Do let's see it."

Mr Spoopendyke conducted his wife to the yard and decanted at length upon the merits of the machine.
