Engine 143

Along came the FFV the swiftest on the line Running o'er the C&O road just twenty minutes behind Running into Sou'ville headquarters on the line Receiving there strict orders from a station just behind 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 Up the road he darted against the rocks he crashed Upside down the engine turned and Georgie's breast was smashed His head lay against the firebox door the flames were rolling high I'm glad to be born for an engineer on the C&O road to die The doctor said to Georgie my darling boy lie still Your life may yet be saved if it is God's blessed will Oh no said George that will not do I want to die so free I want to die with the engine I love one hundred and forty three The doctor said to Georgie your life cannot be saved Murdered upon a railroad and laid in a lonesome grave His face was covered up with blood his eyes they could not see And the very last words poor Georgie said was nearer my God to thee