The Townsmen enjoys the country (2)- The Small Boys

“We've got a holiday on Thursday,” cried my two small sons, joyously bursting in from school. smell sons, 

“That's fines" said I. “We can get out into the country we into th country for the day and have picnic.”

 Their faces fell.

 "We seen the country this year," said Peter. "We went to it at Easter." 

“If I was at home” hinted David, “I could make a bridge with my Meccano”

 This was terrible! Had living in the city made them such complete townsmen already? I over-rode their objections and on the following Thursday, complete with picnic basket, we rode to the end of the tram-lines and set out down a country road.

 "That's a hawthorn; said I, stopping at a miracle of white, 

 "Oh!” said Peter, unresponsively.

 “Some people call it may," I went on brightly/

 “Do they?" said he, then suddenly " Look, David  That thing with a bar across ~ it's an end of speed limit notes."

 "Oh" squealed David. “Let's see the thirty on the other side." They shot ahead to discover it, and the next half-mile wes enlivened by a steady dialogue of instruction regarding speed indicators, road signs and traffic in general, Then we climbed a stile into a field, and interest began to flag.

 “Couldn't we eat our lunch now?" suggested David and the smaller Peter drooped realistically as he sighed :"I'm so hungry!"

 They turned out the basket and cleared its contents, Then, with a disappointed:"Isn't there any more?" they got to their feet and waited for a lead, Suddenly a distant wisp of smoke caught David's eye, 

"It's train" he breathed. “There's a level crossing. Come on, Pete!" 

They pounded over the fields and when I caught up with them were hanging entranced over a gate. 

“We saw it go through," they cried, "It was the Scotch Expresses"

"We might see the Harrogate Pullman if we waited," said Peter, with glowing eyes, I doubted if the Harrogete Pullman were due at that time but they shrugged their shoulders in unconcern,

 “It might go through in half on hour, p'raps, or a hour,” sied Peter, “We could walt and see,"

 "There would be goods trains and expresses in between,”  explained David. 

"But we shall never get any further ~ " I began, but they turned and looked at me in astonishment,  "Do you want to go any further ?" they asked.