Діти залізниці
The beginning of things.
Thesethreeluckychildrenalwayshadeverythingtheyneeded:prettyclothes,goodfires,alovelynurserywithheapsoftoys,andaMotherGoosewall-paper.Theyhadakindandmerrynursemaid,andadogwhowascalledJames,andwhowastheirveryown.TheyalsohadaFatherwhowasjustperfect—nevercross,neverunjust,andalwaysreadyforagame—atleast,ifatanytimehewasNOTready,healwayshadanexcellentreasonforit,andexplainedthereasontothechildrensointerestinglyandfunnilythattheyfeltsurehecouldn’thelphimself.
Youwillthinkthattheyoughttohavebeenveryhappy.Andsotheywere,buttheydidnotknowHOWhappytilltheprettylifeintheRedVillawasoveranddonewith,andtheyhadtoliveaverydifferentlifeindeed.
Thedreadfulchangecamequitesuddenly.
Peterhadabirthday—histenth.Amonghisotherpresentswasamodelenginemoreperfectthanyoucouldeverhavedreamedof.Theotherpresentswerefullofcharm,buttheEnginewasfullerofcharmthananyoftheotherswere.
Itscharmlastedinitsfullperfectionforexactlythreedays.Then,owingeithertoPeter’sinexperienceorPhyllis’sgoodintentions,whichhadbeenratherpressing,ortosomeothercause,theEnginesuddenlywentoffwithabang.Jameswassofrightenedthathewentoutanddidnotcomebackallday.
