Now as the horse went frisking along this is what he thought. “I am pleased with myself. I am sleek, I am swift—swifter than the ox. What would the world do without me?”
Just then he heard a strange humming overhead. He glanced up. The sound came from a wire taut and vibrating. Then he heard fast turning wheels coming “Kathump, kathump.” And what do you think that poor frightened horse saw coming along the road? A self-moving car with a trolley overhead touching the singing wire! His eyes stuck out of his head and his mane stood on end he was so scared. What made it go, he wondered.
“Hello, clodhopper,” shrieked the electric car. “I didn’t know there were any of you four-footed curiosities left. Surely the world has no more use for you. Where you go in half a day, I go in an hour; where you carry one man, I carry ten. If you want speed I’m just what you need. Just watch me!” He was gone leaving only the humming wire overhead. The poor horse thought of what he had heard.
“He called me a clodhopper! He said he could go in an hour where I take half a day! Surely this swift car is more wonderful than I!”
Now the trolley went swinging on his way thinking, “I am pleased with myself. My power is the same as the lightning that rips the sky. I am swift,—swifter than the ox—swifter than the horse. What would the world do without me?”
Just then he heard a terrifying noise. It sounded like a mightly monster coughing his life away. “Chug, a chug a chug a chug, chug.” Then to his horror he saw coming across the green field a gigantic iron creature with black smoke and fiery sparks streaming from a nose on top of his head.
“Well, slowpoke,” screamed the engine as he came near the car. “Out o’ breath? No wonder. You’re not made to go fast like me, for I move by the great power of steam. Look at my monstrous boilers; see my hot fire. Where you go in half a day, I go in an hour; where you carry one man I carry twenty. If you want speed I’m just what you need! Goodbye. Take your time, slow coach.” And chug, chug, he was off leaving only a trail of dirty smoke behind him. The poor trolley car thought of what he had heard.
“He called me a slowpoke! He said he could go in an hour where I take a half day! Surely this ugly engine is greater than I!”
Now the engine raced down to the freight depot which was near the great shipping docks. As he waited to be loaded he thought: