of

The Tioga Iron Works.

by ERNEST A. YOUNG

CHAPTER I.

The Great Engine.

Larry Kendall leaped out of bed and dressed with more than his customary haste.  His father’s voice had called him upon this morning, which was a most uncommon circumstance, for Mr. Kendall was usually off to his work before his son had finished his morning dreams.

“Must be that something is the matter,” reasoned Larry, as he hurried down stairs.

He found his father seated at the breakfast table, but it was evident that he had eaten nothing.

His mother, sitting opposite in her accustomed place, looked paler than usual, and there were dark circles under her eyes that indicated a sleepless night.

She did not look at Larry as the latter came in; but Mr. Kendall did so, in a resolute way that showed his mind to have been thoroughly made up to an important course.

“I wish you to run the engine for me at the iron works for a few days,” were Mr. Kendall’s first words, and they were enough to make Larry’s heart beat quick in anticipation.

“I shall like that,” he replied.

Then, seeing none of his own enthusiasm reflected in the sad face of his mother, he added: 

“Are you ill, father, or hurt?”

“I am well,” Mr. Kendall answered, and then was silent, making a pretense of beginning to eat.

“Your father thinks of going on a journey,” Mrs. Kendall said, in response to her son’s puzzled look.

Larry was keen enough to observe that, whatever the trouble might be, it was something which they did not wish to discuss before him; and, while he was naturally curious to learn the cause of his father’s sudden journey, he was too discreet to ask any questions about the matter.

“Did you speak to Mr. Gardner about my running the engine?” he asked, as he took his seat at the table.

“No; that wasn’t necessary.  You have taken my place several times within a year, when I have been away or ill, and you are always with me when your school isn’t keeping.  I have told him more than once that you knew about the engine as well as I did; and you know I have always taken pains to explain everything, and to have you do all of the work at times, when I was there to show you how.”

Larry’s heart swelled with pride under these frankly spoken words.  His father was not much given to praising any one, and the boy had often felt hurt that no word of acknowledgment ever came as a reward when he had successfully done some difficult work.

This made the praise which came now all the more inspiring.  Mr. Gardner, the superintendent, had frequently given his shoulder an approving tap, and Joe Cuttle, the fireman, often said that “the lad could run the engine as well as any man.”  But Mr. Kendall, who ought to have been the first to observe and appreciate his son’s success, seemed scarcely to have given it a thought.