Anonymous Railroader
On a dark stormy night, as the train rolled along
All the passengers had gone to bed
Except a young man with a babe in his arms
Who sat with a bowed down head.
The innocent one began crying just then
As though its poor heart would break;
One angry man cried: “Make that kid stop its noise;
It’s keeping all of us awake!”
“Put it out,” cried another. “Don’t keep it in here.
We’ve paid for our berth and want rest.”
“Where is its mother? Go take it to her,”
One lady quietly said.
“I wish that I could,” was the man’s sad reply,
“But she’s dead in the car ahead.”
Chorus
While the train went rolling onward, a husband sat in tears,
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years.
Baby’s face brings pictures of a cherished hope that’s fled,
For baby’s cries can’t waken her in the baggage car ahead.
Every eye filled with tears, as his story he told,
Of a wife that was faithful and true,
Of how they had saved all their earnings for years
Just to build up a home for two;
When heaven had sent them this sweet little babe,
Their happy lives were blessed—
His heart seemed to break, when he mentioned her name,
And in tears tried to tell them the rest.
The women arose to assist with the child,
There were mothers and wives on that train,
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace,
With no thought of sorrow or pain.
Next morn at the station, he bade them good-bye,
“God bless you,” he softly said.
They all had a story to tell in their homes,
Of the baggage car ahead.