Evening star., 1940-11-14
(Story on Page AID
(No. 4 of a Series.)

The little bell tinkled irregularly
to an accompaniment of metallic
squeaks and rattles as the engine
progressed by fits and starts across
the yard, moving between tuftssof
dusty grass.
The toy locomotive, Its c0Wcatcher
missing, its boiler badly dented, its
once brilliant red paint taking of,
was being maneuvered by small
boy, about years old, wearing a
clean but faded jumper suit. His
straight, silky, near-white hair
slipped of his forehead and across
his eyes as he bent forward, gripping
the wooden handle atop the engine
cab. The toes of shoes that had ex-
perienced almost constant scuffing
dug into the dry ground. and tiny
leg muscles stood out as the young
'ster strained to propel the wheeled
plaything forward.
Over a twisting route the train"
travelled, following wheel marks
made on previous runs" The stone
steps leading to the doorway of the
small red brick house served as one
station, and where two stretches of
the rusty iron picket fence net to
form a corner of the yard another
regular stop was made. Whenever
the latter point was reached, the
diminutive engineer pressed his face
against the bars and remained
nearly motionless for few minutes,
watching passing automobiles and
trucks in the street.
Work Draw q Compliment.
"Choo-choo going all around, get
all the people"
The child's voice was low. The
words were interspersed with quick
breaths.
"All aboard, people!"
Another station had been reached.
The middle-aged woman rested
her package on the pickets and
looked into the yard Her smile was
returned by the boy, who volun-
teered proudly This is my choo-
choo."
tits a very fine engine, and
you're very fine engineer" she re-
piled.
The 3-year-old, his hair made a
dazzling thatch by the morning sun,
his chubby face pink-tinted at the
cheeks, shone against shabby
background. The woman watched
his husky little body in action for
a few minutes, offering compli-
ments on his operation of the 10
comotive. Finally, she raised up
her package and moved on. calling
back, "Good-by, Mr.. Engineer!"
This was Billy alone at play.
Mother Listens.
Within the small, red brick
house a woman heard the tin
tinabulationS of the little bell as
she sat on a rickety stool before a
sink. She smiled as she sloshed
soapy water about the bottom of a
mixing bowl. Hers was a tired
smile.
A guess at her age probably
would be too high by from 5 to
10 years. She was Is.
This was Billy's mother.
She was smiling because she
knew that while the little bell con-
tinued to ring her son was safe and
happy. Another factor contributed
to. the mothers cheerfulness as she
placed the dishes on the whitened
wooden drainboard. The man at the
employment Office had called Mrs.
johnson next door the previous
afternoon, and the telephone mes
sage had been relayed 10 the
small. red brick house-Jim was to
report to the Office in the morn
ing; machinist's job was open,
and experience seemed to entitle
him to a chance at it.
The young mothers thoughts went
back over the months. She remem-
bered the fine prospects that ap-
peared to be Jims when she mar
ried him, Biny's coming, the happy
days of his first year. She could
not keep herself from thinking Of
that later twilight time, however.