 | 'Weh Down Souf and other Poems : |  |
25
WHY HE SAVED THE ENGINE.
The train was swiftly running, the engineer was late—
With greatest speed was running to meet an awful fate;
Before it was a washout, which threatened death to all,
For none could hope for succor from such an awful fall.
With greatest speed was running to meet an awful fate;
Before it was a washout, which threatened death to all,
For none could hope for succor from such an awful fall.
Uncle 'Rastus saw the danger, and ran to wave it back;
And, in spite of rheumastism, went running up the track
Wildly waving his bandanna,—the moment was sublime,
Thank God! at last they saw him, and stopped the train in time.
And, in spite of rheumastism, went running up the track
Wildly waving his bandanna,—the moment was sublime,
Thank God! at last they saw him, and stopped the train in time.
When they realized the danger from which they had been saved,
Strong men wept and women fainted—they'd been so near the grave;
Fair hands seized on those black ones, kind hearts gave tribute due,
And Uncle 'Rastus stood there, scarcely knowing what to do.
Strong men wept and women fainted—they'd been so near the grave;
26
And Uncle 'Rastus stood there, scarcely knowing what to do.
A purse was made up quickly, and praise unstinted fell;
How did he come to do it, they all asked him to tell.
“You see, de thing wuz dis way: I kum up to de scratch,
I didn't want dat ingine tumblin' in my wadermillun patch.”
How did he come to do it, they all asked him to tell.
“You see, de thing wuz dis way: I kum up to de scratch,
I didn't want dat ingine tumblin' in my wadermillun patch.”
| 'Weh Down Souf and other Poems : | |