Дети железной дороги
Peter’s coal-mine.
Peter’sMine.We’lltakeithomeinthechariot.Punctualityanddespatch.Allorderscarefullyattendedto.Anyshapedlumpcuttosuitregularcustomers."
Thechariotwaspackedfullofcoal.Andwhenitwaspackedithadtobeunpackedagainbecauseitwassoheavythatitcouldn’tbegotupthehillbythethreechildren,notevenwhenPeterharnessedhimselftothehandlewithhisbraces,andfirmlygraspinghiswaistbandinonehandpulledwhilethegirlspushedbehind.
ThreejourneyshadtobemadebeforethecoalfromPeter’sminewasaddedtotheheapofMother’scoalinthecellar.
AfterwardsPeterwentoutalone,andcamebackveryblackandmysterious.
"I’vebeentomycoal-mine,"hesaid;"to-morroweveningwe’llbringhometheblackdiamondsinthechariot."
ItwasaweeklaterthatMrs.VineyremarkedtoMotherhowwellthislastlotofcoalwasholdingout.
Thechildrenhuggedthemselvesandeachotherincomplicatedwrigglesofsilentlaughterastheylistenedonthestairs.TheyhadallforgottenbynowthattherehadeverbeenanydoubtinPeter’smindastowhethercoal-miningwaswrong.
ButtherecameadreadfulnightwhentheStationMasterputonapairofoldsandshoesthathehadwornattheseasideinhissummerholiday,andcreptoutveryquietlytotheyardwheretheSodomandGomorrahheapofcoalwas,withthewhitewashedlineroundit.Hecreptoutthere,andhewaitedlikeacatbyamousehole.
