"Well, it goes," said Laddie; "and anything that goes is almost alive,
anyhow."

"Is that why you made a riddle about a train and boy?" asked Grandpa
Ford. "A train is like a boy because it goes. Is that it, Laddie?"

"Nope! It's 'cause a train can whistle and so can a boy," said the
little chap with a laugh. "Isn't that a good riddle?"

"A train doesn't whistle," declared Russ. "It's only the engine that
whistles. Isn't that so, Grandpa?"

"Well, the engine whistles, of course. But the engine is the main part
of the train. If it wasn't for the engine there wouldn't be any train,
so I guess Laddie's riddle is all right there. A train-engine is like a
boy, because it whistles. There it goes now."

As he spoke the engine gave several loud, shrill blasts.

"What makes it do that?" asked Violet. "What makes the engine whistle?
Was it 'cause Laddie asked that riddle?"

"You children will make Grandpa Ford sleepy with your questions and
riddles," observed Mrs. Bunker to Laddie and Violet. "Please be quiet
now, and let him rest."

"Oh, I don't mind," said the old gentleman. "I love the children, and I
like Laddie's riddles and Vi's questions. Only don't ask me such hard
ones that I can't answer," he went on.