Діти залізниці
For valour.
Acarpethadbeenputdown—andtherewerepotsofrosesonthemantelpieceandonthewindowledges—greenbranchesstuckup,likehollyandlaurelareatChristmas,overtheframedadvertisementofCook’sToursandtheBeautiesofDevonandtheParisLyonsRailway.TherewerequiteanumberofpeopletherebesidesthePorter—twoorthreeladiesinsmartdresses,andquiteacrowdofgentlemeninhighhatsandfrockcoats—besideseverybodywhobelongedtothestation.Theyrecognizedseveralpeoplewhohadbeeninthetrainonthered-flannel-petticoatday.Bestofalltheirownoldgentlemanwasthere,andhiscoatandhatandcollarseemedmorethaneverdifferentfromanyoneelse’s.Heshookhandswiththemandtheneverybodysatdownonchairs,andagentlemaninspectacles—theyfoundoutafterwardsthathewastheDistrictSuperintendent—beganquitealongspeech—verycleverindeed.Iamnotgoingtowritethespeechdown.First,becauseyouwouldthinkitdull;andsecondly,becauseitmadeallthechildrenblushso,andgetsohotabouttheearsthatIamquiteanxioustogetawayfromthispartofthesubject;andthirdly,becausethegentlemantooksomanywordstosaywhathehadtosaythatIreallyhaven’ttimetowritethemdown.Hesaidallsortsofnicethingsaboutthechildren’sbraveryandpresenceofmind,andwhenhehaddonehesatdown,andeveryonewhowasthereclappedandsaid,"Hear,hear."
Andthentheoldgentlemangotupandsaidthings,too.Itwasverylikeaprize-giving.
