Chapter 1 ”The beginning of things”

Words:

Steam engine- a vehicle with an engine powered by steam, used for pulling trains

Cart- a vehicle with either two or four wheels, pulled by a horse and used for carrying goods

They were not railway children at the beginning.

Roberta, Peter and Phyllis lived with their father and mother in London. Their parents were very loving and caring. The children had everything they needed. They were very happy. But they did not know how happy until their life in London was over, and they had to live a very different life indeed.

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On Peter's birthday, his parents gave him a steam train and soon this toy became Peter`s favorite toy, but unfortunately over 3 days it broke down.When his father came home, Peter told him about the broken toy, and his father told him it would be repaired on Saturday.

Suddenly two men knocked on the door and called their father. Ruth - the maid told to mother what she heard from them. Mother didn't want to tell the kids what happened, so she told them that the father had to go away on business. The next day the mother decided to tell the children that the father had some problems in Government. After a few weeks, the mother told the children that they had to move to the country side in a little house near a railway line.

The next day they came to that house. There was no light in the house, everywhere was quiet. Phyllis still thought they wouldn't come.

Chapter 2 ”Peter and the coal”

Words:

Fence- a structure made of wood or wire supported with posts that is put between two areas of land or around a garden, field, etc. to keep animals in, or to keep people and animals out.

Heap- an untidy pile or mass of things.

The family did not get a decent supper as they think Mrs.Viney (a woman from the village) has not prepared it for them. Mother prepared what she can and they went to bed. The next morning, the children woke up feeling excited in their new home. They discovered a railway line but the railway station was too far to see from where they were . Before supper the children decided to go to the railway station. They had a lot to see and a large heap of coal catches Peters attention. 

The children stopped going to school. Their mother wrote stories to provide food on the table. During rainy days, the house was very cold. They couldn't have fires because coal was very expensive. Peter decided to take some coal from the station yard. When Peter stole coal from the station yard, he was caught by the Station Master. Peter thought that taking some coal from the middle of the heap is harmless. The Station Master warned them that what they had done is stealing because the coal belongs to the railway station. The children realized that what they did was wrong and did not steal again.

Peter was caught by the Station Master

Answers to Questions: Chapters One and Two

1.What happened to Father three days after Peter's birthday?

Two men came to the house and Father had to go away with them.

2.Where were Mother and the children going to live?

In the country, in a little white house near a railway station.

3.How did they travel to their new house?

They went by train, and from the station they walked to the house , while a man with a cart took their boxes.

4.Why did they eat cold meat and apple pie for breakfast?

It was the supper that Mrs Vinney left to them , but they didn't find it on the night they arrived , so when they founded it in the next morning , they ate it for breakfast.

5.Where did the children go the first afternoon?

They went to the railway station

6.Why didn't Mother let them have fires in June?

Because coal was very expensive , and they were poor now.

7.Why did the Station Master call Peter a thief?

Because he caught him one night taking coal from the heap in the station yard.

8.Why did the Station Master do about Peter and the coal?

He didn't do anything, except tell Peter that taking coal, even from the middle of the heap, was stealing.

Chapter 3” The old gentlemen”

Words:

Fetch- to go to another place to get something or someone and bring it, him, or her.

Nurse- a person whose job is to care for people who are ill or injured, especially in a hospital.

The children knew that the train from 9.15 was going to London. Every morning they waved to an old gentleman who always waved back at them. At first they did not visit the station. After the trouble with the coal , Peter was afraid of seeing the Station Master , but one day the Station Master met Peter and he said that everything was in the past and he can visit the train station. One day, their mother became very ill and Bobbie decided to do something positive to help. They had to buy expensive medicine but they had no money.

The children thought about paint the words, "LOOK OUT AT THE STATION" on a large white sheet and wave it at the 9.15 train the next day. They pretended that the old man knew their father and took their love to him in London. When the train was ready to leave, Phyllis passed a letter to the old gentleman. In the letter the children asked for help to buy expensive medicine. In the evening, a large box of supplies was delivered to the children with all the things they have asked for. The children were very happy to receive these things, but they did not know what their mother's reaction was.

A large box of supplies was delivered to the children.

Answer to Questions:

1.Why is the chapter called "The Old Gentleman" ? 

The chapter is called ”The Old Gentlemen” because this old gentleman made a good gesture. He helped children by not knowing who they are. This chapter shows us that being good doesn't cost you anything.

2.Is it a good title? If ”yes'”, why? If ”not” , what title would you give it?

I think this title is good, because this chapter is based on the gesture made by that old gentlemen, but I would like to propose another title. I would name the chapter ”Being good is free”, because the gesture that made this old unknown gentlemen I think someone else wouldn't have been able to do the same. Help will always come from where you don't expect it to come.

Chapter 4 "Bobies's ride"

Words:

Handkerchief- a square piece of cloth or paper used for cleaning the nose or drying the eyes when they are wet with tears.

Brooch- a small piece of jewellery with a pin at the back that is fastened to a woman's clothes.