The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-06-04
Never Start What You Can't
Stop.

up?"
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 ex-
aiming 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, L" but it's my way to look over the
engine myself before starting We can't
be too careful
"Hes right" said silas to the boys.
=" Eff he hadn't, regular as clockwork,
travelled all over the Hercules, he
wouldn't be called the best engineer on
the road. Dolf Kerr's run the longest,
too.
Rob was pleased to have the boys hear
that.
"Rob, here-hell be running the
Hercules when grandsirs laid up" added
Silas
CT could now, almost, said Rob.
"Oh, hear him p laughed Silas. "We
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 shouted,
" All aboard |" and away they went along
the iron track.
They ate supper while the train waited
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 engineers
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 grandfather did
Rob was very proud of this.
One day, when he was alone on the
Hercules, two schoolmates came along.
Grandfather away, Rob?"
q" Yes, and silas. They've left me in
charge"
Let us get up there, too?'
Couldn't think of it, said Rob. eff
Silas catches any boys around here, he'll
give them shaking"
We won't stay but minute. Well
run when we see him coming
If let you fellows aboard, you'll get
into mischief" said Rob.
They promised not to touch anything.
At length, Rob let them come up to
where he was. Very soon one said
My uncle makes engines, so know lot
about them, too Wouldn't it be fun to
set this a-going, just minute p
Rob, don't dare start up y said the
other.
81 dare, but won't y
What's the harm ?" asked the first.
q" Uncle showed me how to reverse the
lever
Rob said no, but they kept on limiting
and coaxing. By and by, Rob peered
out to see if anybody was coming, a
strange, guilty look on his face. Then
there was familiar sound from the
mighty horse: it moved slowly along the
siding.
"There, didn't know how to start
it p cried Rob.
The Hercules went faster. 1t seemed
to be getting ready for race.
" Now, we must stop it y cried Rob.
Reverse the lever, quick T.
But the boy had forgotten how He
jumped from the engine, telling the other
to Come on p 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. It was useless He
had let loose a force he could not stop.
He, too, jumped, throwing himself the
same way the engine was going, and |
rolled over and down the bank into the
bushes.
And now there was great cry from
Silas and Mr.. Kerr. With terrified faces
they chased the Hercules. They were
too late to get aboard. The engine had
left the siding for the main road, sped
along to bed, and disappeared, the
ground trembling beneath it's powerful
tread.
Rob felt that he never could look his
grandfather in the face again. He hid |
till dark. Then he went home. His
mother was crying And his grara-
father2 1t seemed as if he had gro n |
years older. Silas was there too, talk
ing pitifully Of the Hercules, as if it were
some living creature that had lost it's
life.
Why, here's Rob," said Silas. eye
won't have no more fine rides with your
grandsir and me They've put US out of
q iob Heard how tba Hercr1ee cot