Edward Helps Out

Ringo Starr: One day, Edward was in the sheds where he lived with the other engines. They were all bigger than Edward and boasted about it.

Gordon: The driver won't choose you again. (Ringo Starr: Said Gordon.) He wants strong engines like us.

Ringo Starr: But the driver and fireman felt sorry for Edward.

Edward's Driver: Would you like to come out today?

Edward: Oh yes, please. (Ringo Starr: Said Edward.)

Ringo Starr: So they lit his fire, made lots of steam, and Edward puffed away. The other engines were cross at being left behind. Edward worked hard all day. The coaches thought he was kind, and the driver was pleased.

Edward: I'm going out again tomorrow. (Ringo Starr: Edward told the other engines that night.) What you think of that?

Ringo Starr: But he didn't hear what they thought, for he was tired and happy that he fell asleep at once. Next morning, Edward woke to find nothing had changed. Gordon was boasting.

Gordon: You watch me, little Edward, as I rush through with the express; that will be a splendid sight for you. Goodbye, little Edward, look out for me this afternoon.

Ringo Starr: Edward went off to do some shunting. He liked shunting. It was fun playing with freight cars. He would come up and give them a push. Then he would stop and the silly freight cars would bump into each other.

Freight Cars: Oh! (Ringo Starr: They cried.) Whatever is happening?

Ringo Starr: Edward played till there were no more freight cars, then he stopped to rest. Presently he heard a whistle. Gordon was cross. Instead of nice shining coaches, he was pulling a lot of dirty freight cars.

Gordon: A freight train! A freight train! A freight train! (Ringo Starr: He grumbled.) The shame of it, the shame of it, oh, the shame of it.

Ringo Starr: Edward laughed, and went to find some more freight cars. Then there was trouble.

Porter: Gordon can't get up the hill. (Ringo Starr: The porter called to Edward's driver.) Would you take Edward and push him, please?

Ringo Starr: They found Gordon halfway up and cross. His driver and fireman were talking to him.

Gordon's Driver and Fireman: You're not trying.

Gordon: I can't do it. (Ringo Starr: Said Gordon.) These noisy freight cars hold an engine back so.

Ringo Starr: Edward's driver came up.

Edward's Driver: We've come to push.

Gordon: No use at all. (Ringo Starr: Said Gordon.)

Edward's Driver: You wait and see. (Ringo Starr: Replied Edward's driver.)

Ringo Starr: They brought the train back to the bottom of the hill.

Edward: I'm ready. (Ringo Starr: Called Edward.)

Gordon: No good. (Ringo Starr: Grumbled Gordon.)

Ringo Starr: They pulled and pushed as hard as they could.

Gordon: I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it. (Ringo Starr: Puffed Gordon.)

Edward: I will do it, I will do it, I will do it. (Ringo Starr: Puffed Edward.)

Ringo Starr: Edward pushed and puffed, and puffed and pushed as hard as ever he could, and almost before realized it, Gordon found himself on the top of the hill.

Gordon: I've done it! I've done it! I've done it! (Ringo Starr: He said.)

Ringo Starr: He forgot about kind Edward and didn't say "thank you". Edward was left out of breath and far behind. But he was happy, because he had been helpful. At the next station, he found that the driver and fireman were pleased with him. The fireman gave him a nice long drink, and the driver said.

Edward's Driver: I'll get out my paint tomorrow, and give you a beautiful coat of blue with red stripes, then you'll be the smartest engine in the sheds.