Chapter 4

(The Engine Burglar)

About two weeks later as their mother was getting well. The children put up a big banner "SHE
IS NEARLY WELL. THANK YOU." on to the fence to thank the old gentleman for helping them.
They decided it was time to tell her what they had done. Their mother was very angry with
them. She rebuked them and told them never to tell anyone that they were poor. She also
sternly reminded them never to ask anything from strangers. Nevertheless, she wrote a letter
to the old gentleman to thank him. The following day was Bobbie's birthday; she was now 12
years old. Her mother, Phyllis, and Peter prepared a surprise birthday party for her. Bobbie
received some very nice presents from them and from Mrs. Viney. Peter gave her half of his
toy steam engine. Bobbie took the broken half of the steam engine. She wanted to get it
mended. The next day, Bobbie went down to the railway alone. She wanted to ask the driver of
the train to help her fix Peter's broken toy train. When the train came, she went and stood
beside the train. Bobbie had never been close to a train's engine before. Bobbie saw the driver
and the fireman talking to Perks, the Porter. She called unto them but they could not hear her.
The noise from the train's steam engine drowned her voice. Bobbie climbed on to the step of
the engine. The train started to move and she fell on to a heap of coal. She cried for help but
the driver and the fireman did not see nor hear her. She put out her hand and touched the
driver's arm. He was shocked to see her. He shouted at her demanding to know what was she
doing there. Bobbie started to cry and the men were worried. They took several minutes to
calm her down. Later, they asked her gently what she was doing there. Bobbie took out the toy
engine and asked if they could help her fix it. The men agreed to help her. Bobbie was very
happy and thanked them. She stayed on the train until Stack Poole Junction. She learned
many things about the steam engine from the two railway men. At Stack Poole Junction they
put her on another train and sent her home. She reached home in the evening. She did not tell
anyone about her train ride. After some weeks, Bobbie took Peter and Phyllis to meet the
friendly engine driver and fireman. Peter was very excited when he saw his mended toy engine
which looked as good as new. As they were walking home, Bobbie told them about her
adventures on the engine of the steam train.