Anonymous
A little child on a sick bed lay
And to death seemed very near;
Her parents’ pride, and the only child
Of a railroad engineer,
His duty called him from those he loved,
From his home where lights were dimmed.
While tears he shed, to his wife he said,
“I’ll leave two lanterns trimmed.”
Chorus
Just set a light when I pass tonight,
Set it where it can be seen.
If our darling’s dead, then show the red,
If she’s better, show the green.
In that small house by the RR side,
’Twas the mother’s watchful eye,
Saw a gleam of hope in the feeble smile,
As the train went rushing by,
Just one short look. ’Twas his only chance,
But the signal light was seen.
On the midnight air there rose a prayer,
“Thank God, the light is green!”