THE GATEMAN.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 2, 10 January 1905, Page 2

THE GATEMAN.

At the railroad crossing the gateman stands; Turning the crank in his faithful hands. Bent and -wrinkled, yet strong and true To the daily duty 'tis his to do.The sun may shine, or. the clouds may frown,July be torrid, December cold, Yet there, in /iris suit of well-worn brown, He guards' the way for the young and old. Keeping with steady, tirelessibrain A watch for the inbound,* outbound train, H» signals the passage of each through the town, As with '"Tinkle!" and "Tinkle!" the gates go down. ,/" How the waiting children caper and dance, And the restless horses curvet and prance I How the servant-maids, upon errands bent, View -the intruders with discontentWhile heavy car and elegant coach Rumble along on the shiny rails, And on the busy one's time encroach' With the vexing burden d«lay entails— As, mindful of-duty's stern command, ' In spite of impatience, of fret, of frown, The gateman puts to the crank his hand, And steadily turning, the gates go down. Oh! I would that on every road to-day, Where slir and Its train hold right of way, Some gateman as ready as this might stand, Turning the* crank in his faithful handThat ever when danger should threaten those • . * Whose path must cross th« enticer'r track, Soma grate a-tlnkle- might interpos*. , And .hold from disgrace the weak ones back— ' Some safeguard be built for unwary feet, To halt, them midway in" the perilous street, And to - signal to each, spite of fret or frown l . * "Stand back for your life, while the gates are down!" — Marcia M. Selman, In Youth's Companion. -^