Діти залізниці
The beginning of things.
AlltheNoah’sArkpeoplewhowereinthetenderwerebrokentobits,butnothingelsewashurtexceptthepoorlittleengineandthefeelingsofPeter.Theotherssaidhecriedoverit—butofcourseboysoftendonotcry,howeverterriblethetragediesmaybewhichdarkentheirlot.Hesaidthathiseyeswereredbecausehehadacold.Thisturnedouttobetrue,thoughPeterdidnotknowitwaswhenhesaidit,thenextdayhehadtogotobedandstaythere.Motherbegantobeafraidthathemightbesickeningformeasles,whensuddenlyhesatupinbedandsaid:
"Ihategruel—Ihatebarleywater—Ihatebreadandmilk.IwanttogetupandhavesomethingREALtoeat."
"Whatwouldyoulike?"Motherasked.
"Apigeon-pie,"saidPeter,eagerly,"alargepigeon-pie.Averylargeone."
SoMotheraskedtheCooktomakealargepigeon-pie.Thepiewasmade.Andwhenthepiewasmade,itwascooked.Andwhenitwascooked,Peteratesomeofit.Afterthathiscoldwasbetter.Mothermadeapieceofpoetrytoamusehimwhilethepiewasbeingmade.ItbeganbysayingwhatanunfortunatebutworthyboyPeterwas,thenitwenton:
Hehadanenginethatheloved
Withallhisheartandsoul,
Andifhehadawishonearth
Itwastokeepitwhole.
