The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-11-25


"Pie in the diamonds, Tom, for the run is long,
And the Lake Shore train from the East is litta
late;
And the minute we hear the tap Of the depot gong
The old girl wants to strike her liyeliest gait.
The night is as black as death, and the wind is in
the west
And the sky above us Is streaked with dusky bars
Whether it storms not the night viii be dark at
For that climbing bank Of clouds is blotting out
the stars
az wish we could start on time, Tom for we're pull
In heavy train
Three coaches, smoker, two Pullman, baggage,
And the old girl leans at the draw-bar a. though she
Z could feel the strain
can see her holding her drivers awfully close to
the rail.
There goes the gong look out, Tom, the signal on
sAfrsidr hear him; what does he signal? All
right say you? SO aheadp
Now, girie, wen give these folks in the sleeper an
all-night ride,
And wen laugh Il the Mississippi ere the eastern
skies are red
Steady, old grill Go easy; look out for yourself
don't slip;
Look At you. nowl Hold close that's right--there
amt no hurry just yet;
Here's handful Of sand for your drivers; itn help
you to hold your grip
Look out for that crossing-don't stub your toe
easy, old girl; don't fret.
How then, you run little; we haven't no time TO
dream;
IN just let you take sx-rnile gait till we're well
outside Of the yards;
Rewe're past Grand Crossing-now rush right along
just help yourself to the steam,
And wen give old Time aud distance our swiftest
and best regards.
MA, hal Do you feel her culver, TOMB It's little
too fast, know,
She knows she has time to make up-she is run
ming so wild and glad;
And I haven't the heart to hold her, Tom, when
uraa aAu b.
When know by the throb Of her nervous pulse
that she wants to run 30 bad.
"It must be nearly morning, Tom, the night has
But the skies grow blacker and di rker, it seems, a.
the weary night wears on;
And though can tell by the smell Of air that it must
be nearly day,
Yet the clouds have blotted out the stars that
should pale In the early dawn.
bhe shows two gauges, doesn't she, Tom? this
light, I can't half SEQ
The very headlight shows dull and dim, faters az
1t Aickers along the rails;
reckon I'm nervous with this long run; and II
always seems to me
That along In the early morning, fellow weakena
and fails
1--WE must be near the river, Tom; wish could
see 1t now;
But wen hear it sweep round the great stone
pier, reckon, By and by;
We're right time, and don't feel afraid of any
Ln1ng, put somehow
g wish could see old Burlingtons hills uploom-
~ ing against the sky
Just feel her springl how eager she seensl how
faster than life she goes
Hear, when touch the whistle, what agony in her
scream;
And you cannot count the whirling miles that over
her shoulder she throws
Why, the nights seems to me, boy, Like
strange, wild, unreal dream.
My hand is heavy, the whistle blew just now
could not hear;
And your voiceis 50 strange and distant Tom,
can't tell where you are.
Have we dropped the train? Its roar is hushed--
hut mufmuring cold and clear,
can hear the sweep Of the river now--it can't be
very far. e
The headlights out and this air. brake, boy-it won't
work any more;
There's something wrong, but I'll drive ahead;
thee 10 no cause for fear
lit dark and stu the grave behind, it's dark
the track before,
But the signa-lights set all right the track
ahead is clear
Tho river is close ahead, boy, can hear it's cease
less flow,
Thought cannot see in the darkness the rush of its
chilling tide;
1t isn't the Mississippi, Tom, it's some river that
dontknow.
And the shadowy sweep of its waters is dark and
cold and vide.
There amt no bridge l can see Tom, but know til,
way il sure,
And m going topuIl right straight ahead through
the quiet, staress night
For zee across the river, aud white and clear anG
pure,
The slgnal-fghts bum steadily and they're set
Come ahead All rightl'"