Ep. 358: The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper

Do you want to listen to a story? This is A Little Engine That Could by Waddy Piper. This is an abridged edition, so we need to maybe find the original version at some point. I remember reading this when I was your age. When was this first published? First published in 1930. Your grandma remembers reading this story when she was a baby. Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding, dong. The little train rumbled over the tracks. She was a happy little train. Her cars were filled with toy animals. Giraffes with long necks. Teddy bears with almost no necks at all. And even a baby elephant. There were dolls and the funniest little toy clown you ever saw. But that was not all. Some cars were filled with good things for boys and girls to eat. Like lollipops or after meal treats. The little train was carrying all these wonderful things to the little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain. She puffed along merrily. Then, all of a sudden, she stopped. She simply could not go another inch. Her wheels would not turn. So sad. Here comes a shiny new engine, said the little clown who jumped out of the train. Please, shiny new engine, won't you pull our train over the mountain? Our engine has broken down and the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain won't have any toys to play with or good food to eat unless you help us. See, there's the train. But the shiny new engine snorted. Huh, I pull you. I am a passenger engine. My train has sleeping cars and a dining car and with waiters. I pull the likes of you. Huh, indeed not. And off he steamed. Oh, they're all sad and that bad train was puffing away. Soon, the little clown called out. Look, a great big strong engine is coming. Please, big engine, cried the dolls and toys. Won't you pull our train over the mountain? I have just pulled a big heavy machine. I've just pulled a train with big heavy machines. I am very important engine indeed. I will pull the likes of you. And the big train puffed off. The little train and all the dolls and toys were very sad. The big engine is not the only one in the world, cried the little toy clown. Here comes another. She looks very old and tired, but our train is so little. Perhaps he can help us. But the rusty old engine sighed. I'm too tired. I must rest my weary wheels. I cannot pull even so little a train as yours over the mountain. I cannot. And off he rumbled. By now the dolls and the toys were ready to cry. But then the little clown said, Here comes a little blue engine, a very little one. Maybe she will help us. The very little engine came chug chug chugging merrily along. What is the matter, my friends? She asked kindly. Will you pull us over the mountain? Cried all the dolls and toys. Our engine has broken down. And the good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain. Is Mama here? Was that who we saw? Oh, she's bringing in things and then we'll see Mama. Our engine has broken down and the good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain won't have any toys to play with or good food to eat unless you help us. I'm not very big. I have never been over the mountain, but I think I can. I think I can. And the little blue engine hitched herself to the train. She tugged and pulled and pulled and tugged and slowly, slowly, slowly they started off. Puff puff chug chug went the little blue engine. I think I can. Up, up, up, faster and faster the little engine climbed. Until at last they reached the top of the mountain. Hooray! Cried the little clown and all the dolls and toys. The good little boys and girls in the city will be happy because you helped us. And the little blue engine smiled and seemed to say as she puffed steadily down the mountain. I thought I could. The end. Down, wanna go see mommy? Okay.