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Oh, no! I'm not toiling on railroads, although I wasn't built for to shirk:
I just limp around in the shops, here, and criticise other folks' work.
And there's plenty more classy can do that and haven't got my chance to explain
And never went down an embankment, along with an engine or train.
I just limp around in the shops, here, and criticise other folks' work.
And there's plenty more classy can do that and haven't got my chance to explain
And never went down an embankment, along with an engine or train.
'Twas on a bright morning—the New Year of Eighteen and eighty, and one:
The Boss of our shop says, “An engine blue-blooded as sin, is just done:
And who shall we get for to drive her, that's shown he can dare and can do?
My Boss says his Boss says the honor is mostly pertainin' to you.
The Boss of our shop says, “An engine blue-blooded as sin, is just done:
And who shall we get for to drive her, that's shown he can dare and can do?
My Boss says his Boss says the honor is mostly pertainin' to you.
28
“You take her, and court her, and keep her, as long, let it be understood,
As you two can manage together, and do what we call ‘making good’;
And don't fret her too much at starting—an engine's a woman, you know;
The more that you study her temper, the better at last she will go.
As you two can manage together, and do what we call ‘making good’;
And don't fret her too much at starting—an engine's a woman, you know;
The more that you study her temper, the better at last she will go.
“This here is a love-child: there's people that works in the place, don't forget,
Put part of their souls in her make-up, to have her the niftiest yet.
And when they do that for an engine, the fact is close-guessed, if not known,
That they pile up a sort of prescription, that gives her a soul of her own.”
Put part of their souls in her make-up, to have her the niftiest yet.
And when they do that for an engine, the fact is close-guessed, if not known,
That they pile up a sort of prescription, that gives her a soul of her own.”
I went in there where she was standing; I looked for first time in her eyes,
The boys, they had kept her in cover, God bless 'em, their friend to surprise;
And if there was ever an engine that mortals an angel might call,
'Twas her that stood there 'mongst the others—the certified Queen of them all.
The boys, they had kept her in cover, God bless 'em, their friend to surprise;
And if there was ever an engine that mortals an angel might call,
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I said “Shall we travel together, my Beauty?” ('twas foolish, I guess)
But out of her glorious splendor, I thought that she smiled me a “Yes”;
Her picture was taken, in grand size; that night, to the big dance it came:
I christened her “Belle of the New Year”—and that was thereafter her name.
But out of her glorious splendor, I thought that she smiled me a “Yes”;
Her picture was taken, in grand size; that night, to the big dance it came:
I christened her “Belle of the New Year”—and that was thereafter her name.
My best girl, she almost grew jealous: she says, with her dear little pout,
“You'd better go marry this wonder you're thinking and raving about:
I wish she'd get smashed!” then a moment, her face was like snow to the view:
And she clasped my hand, saying, “Forget it! for that would perhaps murder you!”
“You'd better go marry this wonder you're thinking and raving about:
I wish she'd get smashed!” then a moment, her face was like snow to the view:
And she clasped my hand, saying, “Forget it! for that would perhaps murder you!”
30
Well, Belle and I journeyed together, two years, through the storm and the sun,
With a love which is—what is the word for't? “Platonic”, I think is the one;
And she learned to talk back to me often: she knew how to laugh and be sad,
And to sulk, and to give me my lesson, when things veered a bit to the bad.
With a love which is—what is the word for't? “Platonic”, I think is the one;
And she learned to talk back to me often: she knew how to laugh and be sad,
And to sulk, and to give me my lesson, when things veered a bit to the bad.
But never was schedules filled sleeker, or passengers treated more grand,
Than they was by the “Belle of the New Year” with me holding fast to her hand;
And never was confidence closer, that more and more steadfastly grew,
Than that which gained slowly and surely, and then made its home with us two.
Than they was by the “Belle of the New Year” with me holding fast to her hand;
And never was confidence closer, that more and more steadfastly grew,
Than that which gained slowly and surely, and then made its home with us two.
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