Діти залізниці
For valour.
AlltheeditorsandsecretariesofSocietiesandMembersofParliamenthadansweredMother’slettersaspolitelyastheyknewhow;butnoneofthemcouldtellwherethewifeandchildrenofMr.Szezcpanskywouldbelikelytobe.(DidItellyouthattheRussian’sveryRussiannamewasthat?)
Bobbiehadanotherqualitywhichyouwillheardifferentlydescribedbydifferentpeople.Someofthemcallitinterferinginotherpeople’sbusiness—andsomecallit"helpinglamedogsoverstiles,"andsomecallit"loving-kindness."Itjustmeanstryingtohelppeople.
SherackedherbrainstothinkofsomewayofhelpingtheRussiangentlemantofindhiswifeandchildren.HehadlearnedafewwordsofEnglishnow.Hecouldsay"Goodmorning,"and"Goodnight,"and"Please,"and"Thankyou,"and"Pretty,"whenthechildrenbroughthimflowers,and"Ver’good,"whentheyaskedhimhowhehadslept.
Thewayhesmiledwhenhe"saidhisEnglish,"was,Bobbiefelt,"justtoosweetforanything."Sheusedtothinkofhisfacebecauseshefancieditwouldhelphertosomewayofhelpinghim.Butitdidnot.YethisbeingtherecheeredherbecauseshesawthatitmadeMotherhappier.
"Shelikestohavesomeonetobegoodto,evenbesideus,"saidBobbie."AndIknowshehatedtolethimhaveFather’sclothes.ButIsupposeit‘hurtnice,’orshewouldn’thave.
