Knjigice
Learn-about book · Classic fairy tales
The Railway Children
The story of three children, a green train and a father who came home
Also in: Otroci z železnice (Slovenian) · Deti zo železnice (Slovak)
In a big house in the middle of London lived three children: Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis. They had a mother who could invent the loveliest games, and a father who was never cross and could mend anything — even the doll's house. In the evenings they sat by the fire while father read aloud. It felt as if it would stay warm and lovely for ever.
1
One evening the doorbell rang. Two serious gentlemen stood outside, and they talked with father in his study for a long time. Then father hugged the children, each of them, and went off into the night with the strangers. Mother was suddenly quite silent and pale. "Where has father gone? Why?" Nobody answered them. And that why hung over the house like a fog.
2
Soon mother said: "We are moving to the country. We shall play at being refugees." They travelled far from the city to a little white house on a hill. It was cold, quiet and full of boxes. But in the morning Peter rushed to the window and shouted: "Look! Down there — a railway!" And all at once everything was much brighter.
3
Every morning at a quarter past nine a green train came down the valley, with shining brass fittings. The children called it the Green Dragon. They climbed on the fence and waved until their arms ached. "Green Dragon, give our love to father!" Phyllis called. For the train went to London — and father was somewhere there.
4
On the train every morning rode an old gentleman with silver whiskers and a tall hat. First he waved back with his newspaper, then with his hand — and soon they were waving like old friends. The children went to the station too, to Perks the kind porter, who knew everything about trains and signals and never ran out of stories.
5
A cold winter came and mother fell ill. There was not enough money for the doctor or the fire. So Peter began carrying off a little coal at a time from the big heap at the station. Of course the station master caught him. But when he heard why Peter had done it, he only coughed: "I know things are hard for you. But coal is not to be taken. Never again, agreed?" And Peter never took another lump.
6
Then it was Perks's birthday. The children went all round the village and told everyone how kind he was to them all. People gladly gave what they could: a basket of apples, honey cakes, a bunch of roses, a bright scarf, even a walking stick. When Perks saw the table full of presents he could not speak at first — and then he laughed and wiped his eyes, both at once.
7
One day the hill beside the line gave a groan. The trees slid slowly down the slope — still standing upright, like a strange dream — and lay with earth and stones across the rails. The children stood rooted to the spot. Then Bobbie went pale: "A train is coming! The driver won't see the heap round the bend in time!"
8
"We need something red!" cried Bobbie. "Red means danger, stop!" The girls had red flannel petticoats under their skirts. Without a second thought they tore them into strips, and Peter tied the strips to sticks. Six little red flags fluttered beside the line. And far away they could already hear it: the train.
9
The train came roaring round the bend. Bobbie stepped into the middle of the track and waved her flags: "Stop! Stop!" The brakes screamed, sparks shot from under the wheels, and the huge green train came to a stand — right beside her. Then it was all over at once, and Bobbie sank into the grass from sheer relief. The train was saved. And everyone on it.
10
The railway did not forget. The children were invited to the station, where gentlemen in fine coats were waiting — and among them the old gentleman from the train! To each of the three he gave a gold watch engraved: In gratitude for bravery. Phyllis held hers as carefully as if it were made of snow. And Perks looked the proudest of them all.
11
Then Bobbie read father's name in an old newspaper — and at last she understood that heavy why: father had been sent to prison though he was innocent. That evening she wrote to the old gentleman: "Our father did nothing wrong. Please help him. You know so many important people." The old gentleman read the letter very slowly. Then he nodded: "We shall put it right."
12
One morning the whole valley lay in a soft white mist. The train came in, and passengers stepped along the platform like shadows. And then Bobbie saw one shadow that was different from all the rest, and she ran: "Daddy! My daddy!" It really was him. He held her the way we hold only what we have almost lost. Then they walked home along the white path, where mother, Peter and Phyllis were waiting. And nothing was missing any more.
13The End
