The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-12
ROB AND THE ENGINE.

W Lshi - "
Rob Kerr paused to answer the boys:
"Going to ride on grandsir's engine
Couldn't you squeeze us in, too?
Say, Rob-
But Rob thought he heard the car
bell, and was showing the soles again.
The boys followed.
When they got there Rob's grand
father, Adolph Kerr. was carefully eN-
aminigg the engine, oil can in hand,
while Silas, the fireman, looked out of
the little window.
Hercules is all right, boss; I've
looked him over myself, said Silas.
Il know you always do" said Mr..
Kerr, "but it's my way to look over the
engine myself before starting. We
cant be too careful
Hes right" Silas told the boys.
EFF he hadn't, regular as clock-work,
travelled all over the Hercules, he
wouldn't be called the best engineer on
the road. 'Dolph Kerr's run the longest,
too"
Rob was pleased to have the boys
hear that.
Rob, here-he'I be running the
Hercules when grandsir's laid up,
added Silas.
al could now, almost" said Rob.
ooh, hear him. laughed Silas I'VE
may as well both lay ourselves away,
boss"
Mr.. Kerr made no reply, but stepped
aboard How the boys envied Rob as
he rang the bell! The conductor shout
ed: ''All aboard and away they
went along the iron track.
They ate supper while the train wait
ed at junction. Silas made coffee and
boiled eggs; Rob toasted bread on the
end of the boiler.
Every chance he could get, Rob was
on the Hercules. All the other engi-
neers knew Rob, the grandson of old
Adolph Kerr, and never sent him away
if they saw him about the engine-house
They trusted him because his grand
father did. Rob was very proud of
this.
One day, when he was alone on the
Hercules, two schoolmateS came along.
''Grandfather away. Rob:?''
Eyes, and Silas. They've left me in
charge"
LET us get up there, to0?''
Couldn't think of it.' said Rob. ''If
Silas catches any boys round here he IL
give them shaking"
''We won't stay but minute; We il
run when we see him coming"
Elf | let you fellows aboard You II
get into mischief, said Rob.
They promised not to touch anything.
At length Rob let them come up where
he was. Very soon one said; My
uncle makes engines, so | know a lot
about them, too Wouldn't it be fun
to set this agoing, just q minute?"
Rob don t dare start up" said the
other.
Il dare, but WON'T
Whats the harm?" asked the first.
"Uncle showed me how to reverse the
lever
Rob said no; but they kept on hint
ing and coaxing. BY and by Rob peereJ
out to see if anybody was coming, &
strange, guilty look on his face; then
there was a familiar sound from the
mighty horse-it moved slowly along
the siding.
There, didn't | know how to start
it?'' cried Rob.
The Hercules went faster; it seemed
to be getting ready for a race.
"Now we must stop itn' cried Rob.
''Reverse the lever, quick!'
But the boy had forgotten how! He
jumped from the engine, telling The
other to Come on" So Rob was
alone, and in sad fix Pale as death
he tried with all his strength to do as he
had seen his grandfather. 1t was use
| lesst He had let loose a force he coulC
not stop. He. too, jumped, throwing
himself the same way the engine wa,
going; rolled over and down the banE
into the bushes.
And now there was great cry from
Silas and Mr.. Kerr. With terrified
faces they chased the Hercules. The,
were too late to get aboard; the eng NJ
had left the siding for the main road
sped along to a bend and disappeared
the ground trembling beneath its pow
erful tread.
Rob felt that he never could look hi
grandfather in the face again. He hiC
till dark. Then he went home. Hi
mother was crying. And his grand
father? 1t seemed as if he had growl
years older. Silas was there, too, talk
ing pitifully of the Hercules as If it wer
some living creature that had lost it
life.
"Why, here's Rob-" said Silas; "y
won't have no more fine rides with you
grandSir and me! They've put us out q
q Job Heard how the Hercules GO
away to-day? Wouldn't be ketched II
more wild horse O the desert; h
stove up coal train and pitched head
fust into pastures"
Rob was surprised that no one sus
pected him. Anybody killed. h
whispered.
"All living" was Silas' queer reply
"except your grandsir. 1t pretty mig
finished him."
"Of course he'll get another engine
he's so smart" faltered Rob.
Then his grandfather spoke, in a deer
troubled tone. Nobody would trus
the old man again, Rob. They turne
him off with hard words. Oh, it's
cruel ending for the work of lifetime!
Tears filled his eyes; they rushed int
Rob's, too. He could keep it from HI
| grandfather no longer. He told him al