Дети железной дороги
Peter’s coal-mine.
"Whatahorridoldwoman!"saidMother;"she’sjustwalkedoffwiththemoneyandnotgotusanythingtoeatatall."
"Thenshan’twehaveanysupperatall?"askedPhyllis,dismayed,steppingbackontoasoap-dishthatcrackedresponsively.
"Oh,yes,"saidMother,"onlyit’llmeanunpackingoneofthosebigcasesthatweputinthecellar.Phil,domindwhereyou’rewalkingto,there’sadear.Peter,holdthelight."
Thecellardooropenedoutofthekitchen.Therewerefivewoodenstepsleadingdown.Itwasn’tapropercellaratall,thechildrenthought,becauseitsceilingwentupashighasthekitchen’s.Abacon-rackhungunderitsceiling.Therewaswoodinit,andcoal.Alsothebigcases.
Peterheldthecandle,allononeside,whileMothertriedtoopenthegreatpacking-case.Itwasverysecurelynaileddown.
"Where’sthehammer?"askedPeter.
"That’sjustit,"saidMother."I’mafraidit’sinsidethebox.Butthere’sacoal-shovel—andthere’sthekitchenpoker."
Andwiththeseshetriedtogetthecaseopen.
"Letmedoit,"saidPeter,thinkinghecoulddoitbetterhimself.Everyonethinksthiswhenheseesanotherpersonstirringafire,oropeningabox,oruntyingaknotinabitofstring.
"You’llhurtyourhands,Mammy,"saidRoberta;"letme."
"IwishFatherwashere,"saidPhyllis;"he’dgetitopenintwoshakes.
