Engine 143

Along came the FFV, the swiftest on the line Running o'er the C&O road just 20 minutes behind Running into Seville headquarters on the line Receiving their strict orders from the station just behind Running into Hampton, the engineer was there George Allen was his name, with curling golden hair His fireman, Jack Dixon, was standing by his side Awaiting for strict orders while in the cab to ride Georgie's mother came to him with a bucket on her arm Saying, my darling son, be careful how you run For many a man has lost his life in trying to make lost time And if you run your engine right you'll get there just on time Mother, I know your advice is good and later I'll take heed I think my engine is all right, I'm sure that she will speed O'er this road I need to go at the rate of a cannonball And when I blow for the stockyard gate I'm sure they'll hear my call Up the road she darted, against the rocks she crashed Upside-down the engine turned, poor Georgie's breast it smashed His head was against the firebox door, the flames were rolling high I'm glad I was born for an engineer, on the C&O road to die The doctor said to Georgie, my darling boy, be still Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will Oh, no, said Georgie, that will not do, I want to die so free I want to die for the engine I love, one hundred and forty-three The doctor said to Georgie, your life cannot be saved Murdered upon the railroad and laid in a lonesome grave His face was covered up with blood, his eyes you could not see And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer, my God, to Thee

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