Engineer's Child

A little child on a sickbed lay and death was very near

She was the pride and only child of a railroad engineer

His duty had called him from those he loved and seeing that hope was dim

While a tear he shed to his wife he said just have two lanterns trimmed

Just hang a light as I pass tonight hang it where it can be seen

If our baby's dead just show the red if she's better then show the green

In a little house by the railroad track a mother with watchful eye

Saw a gleam of hope and a feeble smile as the train went rushing by

Just one short look was his only chance to see the light agleam

In the midnight air there arose a prayer thank God the light was green

Just hang a light