Діти залізниці

           Peter’sMine.We’lltakeithomeinthechariot.Punctualityanddespatch.Allorderscarefullyattendedto.Anyshapedlumpcuttosuitregularcustomers."

           Thechariotwaspackedfullofcoal.Andwhenitwaspackedithadtobeunpackedagainbecauseitwassoheavythatitcouldn’tbegotupthehillbythethreechildren,notevenwhenPeterharnessedhimselftothehandlewithhisbraces,andfirmlygraspinghiswaistbandinonehandpulledwhilethegirlspushedbehind.

           ThreejourneyshadtobemadebeforethecoalfromPeter’sminewasaddedtotheheapofMother’scoalinthecellar.

           AfterwardsPeterwentoutalone,andcamebackveryblackandmysterious.

           "I’vebeentomycoal-mine,"hesaid;"to-morroweveningwe’llbringhometheblackdiamondsinthechariot."

           ItwasaweeklaterthatMrs.VineyremarkedtoMotherhowwellthislastlotofcoalwasholdingout.

           Thechildrenhuggedthemselvesandeachotherincomplicatedwrigglesofsilentlaughterastheylistenedonthestairs.TheyhadallforgottenbynowthattherehadeverbeenanydoubtinPeter’smindastowhethercoal-miningwaswrong.

           ButtherecameadreadfulnightwhentheStationMasterputonapairofoldsandshoesthathehadwornattheseasideinhissummerholiday,andcreptoutveryquietlytotheyardwheretheSodomandGomorrahheapofcoalwas,withthewhitewashedlineroundit.Hecreptoutthere,andhewaitedlikeacatbyamousehole.