Just as he was quietly showing them all this, a succession of ear-piercing clangs were heard. Meg's papa knew what it meant, and catching his little girl up in his arms, hurried with her into an out-of-the-way corner. The still, well-ordered engine-house was instantly alive with energy. The horses snorted with excitement, as they backed out of their stalls and trotted into place. Hurried footsteps were heard overhead and on the stairs, and in a moment several men were springing to their stations. One turned on the steam and lighted the fire; others made fast the few buckles required to attach the harness. The driver was in his seat, the whip cracked, and away went the already smoking engine at a tearing pace.
Meg trembled like a leaf when it was all over, and her father was afraid that she would be more nervously timid than ever. But to his surprise she said to him as they walked home, "Papa, now I've seen how everything is done, I shall never be afraid any more."
And just after she said so they met the engine on its way back, for the fire was already out.
[NURSERY RHYMES.—Continued.]
Ring-a-ring-a-roses,
A pocket full of posies;
Hush! hush! hush! hush!
We're all tumbled down.
