The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-11-18
THE ENGINEERS LAST Run.
BIT n. >. BuRDKrrE.

Z" Pile In the diamonds, Tom, for the run Is long,
And the Lake Shore train from the East Is little
late
The old girl wants TO strike her hyeiest gait
The night is as black as death, and the wind is in
And Tie sky above us Is streaked with ansky bars
whether it storms or not the night will be dark at
best, -,
the stars.
at wish we could start on time Tom, for were pull
Three coaches, a smoker. two Pullman, baggage,
EXPRESS ana mail;
And the o 4 girl loans AZ the draw-bar as though she
could feel a. strsn-
can see her holding her drivers awfuuy close to
the rail.
There Z, cs the gong look out, Tom the signal is on
sAffaidp | hear him what does he signal? AN
right say you? 60 aheadP
Now, girie, wen give these folks in tho sleeper an
And we N laugh at the Mississippi ere the eastern
skies are red
STEADY, old girl! Go easy; look out for yourself
don't slip;
Look at you, now Hold close that's right--there
amt no hurry just YETI
Here's handful of sand for your drivers it1l hep
you 10 hold your grip
Look out for that crossing-dont stub your toe
easy, old girl; don't fret.
Now then, you run little; We haven't no time to
dream;
Ill just let you take six-mile gait I'LL were Wei
outside of the yards;
Severe past Grand Crossing-now rush right along
just help yourself to the steam,
And Wen give old Time and distance our swiftest
and best regards.
"Ha, ha! Do You feel her culver, Tom? It's little
too fast, know,
She knows she has time to make up-she Is run
ming 30 wild and So glad;
And haven't the heart to hold her, Tom, when l
zee she wants to go;
When know 10y the throb of her nervous pulse
that she wants to run so bad.
at must be nearly morning, Tom, the night has
away,
But the skies grow backer and darker, it seems as
the weary night wears on;
And though tell by the smell of air that 1t must
be nearly day,
Yet the clouds have blotted out tho stars that
should pale in the early dawn.
She shows two gauges, doesn't she, Tom? this
light, can't half see
The very headlight shows dull and dim, falters "a
il fckers along the rails;
reckos I'm nervous with this long run; and II
always seems to
That along in the early morning, fellow weakens
and fails.
ave must be near the river, Tom; l wish I could
see it now;
But wen hear IL sweep round the great stone
pier, reckon, by and by;
We're right on time and don't feel afraid of any
thing, but son chow
wish could see old Burlington's hills uploom-
ing against the sky.
Just feel her spring how eager she seems! how
faster than life she goes
Hear, when touch the whistle, what agony III her
scream;
And you cannot count the whiring miles that over
her shoulder she throws
Why, the nights run seems to me, boy, like .
strange, wild, unreal dream.
"My hand Is heavy, the whistle blew just now ]
could not hear;
And your voice is 80 strange and distant, Tom, ]
can't tell where you are.
Have we dropped the train? Its roar is hushed-
but murmuring cold and clear,
can hear the sweep of the river now--it can't be
very far.
The headlights out, and this ar-brake, boyit won't
work any more;
There's something wrong but I'll drive ahead (;
there cause for fear
Itt dark and still as the grave behind it's dark on
the track before,
But the signal-lights set oil right the TRACK
ahead is clear
g. The river is close ahead boy, hear It's cease
less flow,
Though cannot see in the darkness the rush of ia
chilling tide:
1t isn't the Mississippi, Tom, it's some river that
don't know.
And The shadow sweep Of it's waters is dark an6
cold and vide.
There amt no bridge ] can see, Tom but know the
way IL sure,
And IN going topull right straight ahead through
Tie quiet, staress night
For across the river, and white and clear and
pure,
Tho signal-liRhts burn steadily, and they're set
Come ahead All right >"