Now the engineer and the fireman were pleased when they heard what the new engine wanted. But the engineer said:
“All in good time, my engine,
Steady, steady,
’Til you’re ready.
Learn to know
Before you go.”
Then he said to the fireman, “First we must give our engine some water.” So they put the end of a hose hanging from a big high-up tank right into a little tank under the engine’s tender. The water filled up this little tank and then ran into the big boiler and filled that all up too. And while they were doing this the water kept saying:
“I am water from a stream
When I’m hot I turn to steam.”
When the engine felt his boiler full of water he asked eagerly:
“Now I have water,
Now do I know
How I should go?”
But the fireman said: