The Wreck of the Number Nine

On a cold winter's night not a star was in sight And the north wind came howling down the line With his sweetheart so dear stood a brave engineer With his orders to pull old No 9 She kissed him goodbye with a tear in her eye But the joy in his heart he could not hide Oh the whole world seemed bright when she told him that night That tomorrow she'd be his blushing bride Oh the wheels hummed a song as the train rolled along And the black smoke came pouring from the stack And the headlight agleam seemed to brighten his dream Of tomorrow when he'd be coming back He steered around the hill and his brave heart stood still For a headlight was shining in his face And he whispered a prayer as he drew on the air Or he knew this would be his final grace In the wreck he was found lying there on the ground And he asked them to raise his weary head As his breath slowly went this the message he sent To the maiden who thought she would be wed There's a little white home that I built for our own Where I dreamed we'd be happy by and by But I leave it to you for I know you'll be true Till we meet at the golden gate goodbye