Діти залізниці
Peter’s coal-mine.
Therocksandhillsandvalleysandtrees,thecanal,andaboveall,therailway,weresonewandsoperfectlypleasingthattheremembranceoftheoldlifeinthevillagrewtoseemalmostlikeadream.
Motherhadtoldthemmorethanoncethattheywere‘quitepoornow,’butthisdidnotseemtobeanythingbutawayofspeaking.Grown-uppeople,evenMothers,oftenmakeremarksthatdon’tseemtomeananythinginparticular,justforthesakeofsayingsomething,seemingly.Therewasalwaysenoughtoeat,andtheyworethesamekindofniceclothestheyhadalwaysworn.
ButinJunecamethreewetdays;theraincamedown,straightaslances,anditwasvery,verycold.Nobodycouldgoout,andeverybodyshivered.TheyallwentuptothedoorofMother’sroomandknocked.
"Well,whatisit?"askedMotherfrominside.
"Mother,"saidBobbie,"mayn’tIlightafire?Idoknowhow."
AndMothersaid:"No,myducky-love.Wemustn’thavefiresinJune—coalissodear.Ifyou’recold,goandhaveagoodrompintheattic.That’llwarmyou."
"But,Mother,itonlytakessuchaverylittlecoaltomakeafire."
"It’smorethanwecanafford,chickeny-love,"saidMother,cheerfully."Nowrunaway,there’sdarlings—I’mmadlybusy!"
"Mother’salwaysbusynow,"saidPhyllis,inawhispertoPeter.Peterdidnotanswer.Heshruggedhisshoulders.Hewasthinking.
