Golden Days for Boys and Girls | Page 5

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.
"He may reason that I'll try harder if I think I'm not perfect than I would
if he praised me more," Larry often told himself, and now the
long-wished-for expression of confidence had come.
[Illustration: LARRY]
[Illustration: "I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS FELLOW AWAY
FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE WE'RE ALL BLOWN OUT OF THE
BUILDING TO PAY FOR HIS CARELESSNESS."]
With so much to think about, Larry could eat but little breakfast, and
his appetite was not improved by the manifest distress of his mother
and the taciturnity of his father.
"It is nearly six, Larry," reminded the latter, breaking the silence.
"Yes, sir. I will go right along."
He flung on his cap and buttoned up his coat, lingering at the door for a

parting word from his father. But none came.
"What shall I say to Mr. Gardner?" Larry asked, unable to go without
breaking the silence.
"You needn't say anything."
"But he may ask why you didn't come. He always does, unless you give
notice the night before."
"Your mother told you I was going away, and that is enough for you to
tell him. You needn't let it trouble you, anyway; just attend to your
duties and say nothing to anybody. Remember that it is a responsible
business to have full charge of a thousand-hose-power engine and nine
boilers, and something that not many boys of seventeen are trusted to
run even for a day or two at a time."
"I know that, father, and that is why I wanted to know what to say to
the superintendent."
"I have told you all you need to say, and more, unless you are asked."
"All right, sir. I--I hope you will have good luck, father, and--good-by."
Mr. Kendall seemed not to have heard the parting wish of his son; he
certainly did not return the good-by. And mingled with the feeling of
satisfaction at being intrusted with the care of the great engine was a
sensation of vague uneasiness