St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-08-28
FOB OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
THE "PANThER."
Story OF the Chiidron's Adventure 40 .
Runaway Engine.

i
Runaway Engine.
pap -t-h-e-r; what does that spell
Artie?'
Panther; wild beast" replied tn
lad, whose little sister had speit tn
name letter By letter. And where d.
you think the letters were printed? No
not in book. nor on . paper at all
they were on an engine!
On fine new engine. which had no
long come out of 1.-THE Shops" as tn
mandatory is termed. These ..shops'
are not places where you can 60 ant
buy toys or sweetmeats-oh. dear, no
The engine-shops are great sheds wher'
railway engines are built Some hav,
six wheels, some eight; some hav,
tenders for coal and water; some hav,
no tenders. but carry their own coal
The great engines have tenders; tn,
''tank" engines. none.
The engine which Artie and his sis
ter Jane were looking at had 81,
wheels. On each side was one bic
wheel, rising high over their heads,
and two smaller wheels, one in front
and the other behind the big wheel
There was a tender. too, with coal on
the top, and water in the tank Under
meath; for engines want to eat and
drink. just as little folks do. only the
engines eat coal (Which we hope none
of our readers ever do), and drink wa.
ter. which We all do.
This engine, whose name was "Pan-
ther.' was standing by itself. smoking
very quietly.
Il say, Jenny, wouldn't it be fun to
get up on the panther" and make il
carry us to the station and back?"
''Yes, but what would father and
Mr.. Oldham say?' replied Jane, tim
idly.
..Do you think can't drive an en-
gine? Why. I've often been with
father and Jack Gibbs"
That's different. Artie. But this is
half holiday, and there are not many
people in the yard. No one can help
us. ~
.All the better!" said Artie. I'VE
shall not be seen. But say. I'll tell
You what we'll do; we'll ask Ben Best
he ii help us, and we can go on the
side line 10 the points and back"
These children were the son and
daughter of an engine-driver. The
boy was just beginning to learn how
to clean an engine. He had to get in
side and underneath into the fire. box.
and sometimes he slept there!
But Artie Barton knew little about
engines, and was so fond of them.
He "loved them," he used to say.
The children were gazing at the
Panther" and Artie was just going
to get up ON the ..footplate. where
the men stand, when Ben Best came
out.
"Hollo, Arthur! you'd better come
down from there
NO. Ben; Jenny and I are going
for ride to the cross-Over road and
back. Will you Gomez"
The .'cross-over' is place where a
pair of rails unite the main lines: by
means of "points" the trains or engines
can be shunted or passed over from one
line to the other.
"Well." replied Ben. II think l will
60, too. 1t is not far, and there's no
danger, for the points are shut and we
can't get out on the line
"AlI right. Come. Jenny. give me
your hand" said her brother. mind
the wheel; there! Isn't that lovely?"
"How high up We arer' exclaimed
the girl. I'VE can see a long way in
front What nice glass; there s water
in it-seer'
Don't touch any thing, Jenny, you
may burn your hand. Now, Ben.
there's no one here only the clean
ers, and they won't tell. The men
are off, and there is no train due, l
know"
Ben climbed up. and said: "rn
drive"
..No, I'll start her-it's only little
way. You can run her back. Now then:
hold tight. Jenny"
Jenny held tight. and Artie pushed
the handle which lets the steam 60 out
of that great rounded dome you see on
top of engines to move the wheels
The steam rushed out wit loud
fizz. whiz, whiz! and the big engine
When Ben and Arthur thought they
had got rs much spee1 as was wanted,
they tried to pull back the handle
again, and stop the steam. The ham
die had been pushed open q very lit
tie; and very fortunate it was for the
that the regulator" was so
stiff.
Because when they tried to pull it
back and stop the steam they could
not!
Artie and Ben and Jane all tried to-
gether to pull the handle into its place.
But it was no use. The little hands
could not move the great handle, which
vas rather too high for them to grasp
properly.
"The valve las stuck" said Ben.
I'VE are in . nice pickle"
Pull the lever back, and reverse
he gear; tina. will stop her," said
Arthur.
But they could not do that either.
The power of the steam was too great
Tor their strength. and the engine ran
On quietly, slowly, but surely, through
he points. which acted by themselves,
put on to the railway line.
1--WE shall be killedr' cried Jane.
'Oh, if we run into any thing, what
.ver wiH happen to all Of us?''
There is q train on the other line
n the station" cried Ben, IL will
Jump of and tell the men,"
No, nor screamed Jane, .'they
will see us. and come to stop u.s."
1--WE must whistle" said Artie. who
vas . brave boy. If we don't we
nay run over some one. The driver Of
hat train will see us. and we are not
yoing fast"