Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-02
How Tom Ran the Engine without
Wood or Water.

tCharles Barnard in Harper's Young People
Once upon time rich man built q school
for boys. In which they might study survey
iDg, engineering, mechanics and the sciences
one needs to know to be a railroad man. This
man began life as train boy. and steadily
pushed has way up TO be fireman, engineer,
master mechanic and finally president Of
railroad. He often said his own chance In life
TO school when boy and learned from books
about steam and engines, levels, inclines and
curves before he undertook to fire boiler or
take locomotive over the road. SO it hap
peDed he built the school close to the repair
shops OF the road OF which he was president.
He put good teac lers and good books In the
the braseTaen copSucfors ensineers s ana other
men employed On the line. In the school the
boys were TO study the science OF the railroad
went 10 work on the road, they Would not navs .
such hard time as the train-boy who became
president.
twice every year the president offered Wal
than watch as prize to the boy In the school
who should write the best composition on any
subject connected with the things they had
been studying or anything In relation to en-
was conductor on the night express, had open
In the school three years, and had tried five
times lor the prize and lost 1t every time: Tom
was regarded oy all the scholars as the bright
est boy in the school, He suffered In his
81 eech and his Handwriting was as stiff az a
sW1ich-Iod. yet he was alwapS ut the head of his
CLASS You could never trip him on any knot
questions as to whether the cylinders were on
Top OF the boilers or under the tender. He
Knew the name and use OF every bit OF metal ia
al engine, and IL was believed by all the boys
that be was good engineer, and could take his
fathers train right through to the Junction
without running past red light or wasting
steam on the down grades.
The semi-annual prize had been announced
ana nearly every boy In the school WAS busy
over MS composition, Except Tom.
l-l-lts no use, BIB boys i shall not try for
nj I riff
t-ttell-tell what know. II they would give
a.. Price ice 1or OF. doing something. l think might
Tom was a great favorite in the school. and
not one or the boys laughed at this speech
They were taught manners, as well as mecnar-
les IN that school, and the boys well knew that
compositions and get prizes, but when it came
10 GONG the things, why. Tom Stayboltt would
The day Of the prize-giving drew near. and
every boy save Tom was hard at work over his
composition. He had tried i've times, and each
Time the teachers had said his composition Wa
ward sentences, and punctuation that was
truly awful. Now IL happened that the day
before the prize was to be given, new locomo.
i've arrived on the railroad, and stood. without
WOOD or water, on the track of the repair-shop
YARD. It mad been hauled up on the freight
Train, and had never been used on the road
After school number Of the boys went over to
the yard to see the new engine, and among
them was Tom Stay bOltt.
l! was first class passenger engine, built for
nlgn speed, and looking very handsome In its
several men looking at the engine as the boys
came up, and they gathered round to hear what
might be said.
IAN empty engine" remarked one of the
men, always seems to me very helpless thing.
1t Is SO big and heavy, IL is Impossible to move
it Without steampower, and yet IL VIII not only
We eye as al one IL WIN Sar drag many times Its
II is Aot Inc engine that moves" said
another man. 'Its the wood or coal and
Water-the 1uel and steam. II It were not for
at all" W
,ro 81 can make her go without w-w-w-wood-
This remark caused laugh from the bows
ana even the men smiled at the absurd state
ment, one man came over to where Tom STOOD
ano SAID. Bow would you do that, my boy?,
1C Iatner n-n-nOt-not TELL"
"Why not?"
Because nm. never t-t.trte-trled IT.
"Oh, you mean you think you could, but you
nave never proved your theory by experiment"
.1-y.yes-yeS, SIR
The men and boys became wonderfully inter
esleu 10 This conversation, for 1T was clear that
LON stay ooltt knew what he was talking
DO you belong to the railroad school,"
You mean to try for the prize suppose?"
No. Sir. My handwriting is as crooked as a
r-r-rams h h norn-ram's horn"
After that nothing more OF Importance was
said, and the boys, having looked over the en-
glne 10 their hearts content, went home
The next day at 10 o'clock the entire school
was marched into the lecture room OF the
school building TO see the prize watch given by
the president TO the boy VINO had written the
best composition. All the teachers were there
together with the fathers and mothers of the
boys, visitors. and people connected with the
railroad. The prize giving was regarded "a a
great event along the line, and every man.
from engine-wipeTs to directors wanted TO b.
OF hama 10 see whose son carried Off the prize
AL do:lS, railroad time the president and tee
honorable directors, with their wives and
daughters, marched In and took seats on toe
piatlorm, while all the boys stood up as a mat
yer OF respect TO the founder Of the school. IL
was altogether quite grand and ceremonious
ahalr, and was for the boys an impressive oc-
caslon When the directors and ladies were
seated, the boys sat down. Then there was a
speech from the head-Inaster, followed by one
from director, and one from the presidents
wife. Then it came the presidents turn TO give
out the prizes. All the compositions, neatly
when he stood up he brushed them all one side
ss II he old not care much for compositions'
HIS speecs was short and very PECULIAR
nLadles and gentlemen, and boys OF the
school. have carefully read all the composi.
tons and, while think they are ali excellent,
have decided that this time the chance to win
Plze Sna pc open to those who did not
IniS was great surprise, and the boys won.
dered now this was to be done. They knew the
PRESIDENT was just and honorable man. and
"ooAu uo AotAiA6 uuihII, SO tl6y accepted what
De SAID IN silence, though those who had written
Inc composltlons were, OF course, somewhat
disappointed.
Yesterday" continued the president, 81
neaIo one OF the boys say he could run loco
nOtlVe engine without wood or water II he
can 90 II, lie snail have the prize. Is the boy
pTesent?"
There was solemn hush In the room, Every
one looked about. and wondered II the auda-
clous ana foolish boy was there OF course It
could not be done, and the president had taken
This means TO punish him for his vain and ida
poasung: AS for Tom Stayboltt he felt ready
10 FIX through the floor. Something must ne
0oLe ABOUT Ii, andln moment he STOOD M
and said, In clear, manly voice.
.! sald SO, SIT; and If sou will give me tie
eLsihe, ana Jerry Smiths Mogul, I'll do it."
Inc Su0Gen appearance OF little Tom Stay
Diott. pale and yet calm, and the clear voice
without deIect, caused a great sensation and
every one turned In wonder to look at MIN.
some OF the ladies wanted to know what Inc
eoy meant by Jerry Smiths Mogul, -" and the
gentlemen With them explained that 1t was a
neaVy freight engine OF The ''Mog vi" pattern
run by j. Smith.
The president called Tom up to the platform,
ar @ lof moment or two there was wits.
perez conversation between Tom, the head
master OF the school and the president. Every
Ole iooKed on with the greatest interest, and
wondered what would happen next Ton
seemed TO have convinced the two gentlemen
that nat. he Knew exactly what he was talking
about. for the president smiled and SHOOK Tom
ny the hand, and then stood up and said to all
the people:
sSyNhen 7 heard Maoter Ctorho,t ,,,- ,o...-