Дети железной дороги
The pride of Perks.
"Hooray!"criedPeter,suddenly,"I’vegotit."Hejumpedupandkickedattheloosehay.
"What?"saidtheothers,eagerly.
"Why,Perksissonicetoeverybody.Theremustbelotsofpeopleinthevillagewho’dliketohelptomakehimabirthday.Let’sgoroundandaskeverybody."
"Mothersaidweweren’ttoaskpeopleforthings,"saidBobbie,doubtfully.
"Forourselves,shemeant,silly,notforotherpeople.I’llasktheoldgentlemantoo.YouseeifIdon’t,"saidPeter.
"Let’saskMotherfirst,"saidBobbie.
"Oh,what’stheuseofbotheringMotherabouteverylittlething?"saidPeter,"especiallywhenshe’sbusy.Comeon.Let’sgodowntothevillagenowandbegin."
Sotheywent.TheoldladyatthePost-officesaidshedidn’tseewhyPerksshouldhaveabirthdayanymorethananyoneelse.
"No,"saidBobbie,"Ishouldlikeeveryonetohaveone.Onlyweknowwhenhisis."
"Mine’sto-morrow,"saidtheoldlady,"andmuchnoticeanyonewilltakeofit.Goalongwithyou."
Sotheywent.
Andsomepeoplewerekind,andsomewerecrusty.Andsomewouldgiveandsomewouldnot.Itisratherdifficultworkaskingforthings,evenforotherpeople,asyouhavenodoubtfoundifyouhaveevertriedit.
