Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1913 — The ONLOOKER by HENRY HOWLAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER by HENRY HOWLAND

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When you are seven hours late, and time Is precious with what glee You listen while the guard explains how long he thinks the wait will be; ■ “We’ll make up time,” he promises, “as soon as they have cleared the track," And presently the train moves on, and hopefully you settle back. Then for a little while you watch the poles, as rapidly they pass; But hope Is soon dispelled again—the brakes begin to grind, alas! Somewhere! In front it seejns there Is a * long and precious load of freight. And near some cornfield in the stfh you sit and wait and wait and wait.

The moments that are dear to you keep passing, to return no more; You seek the guard who bravely gave you reason to hope on before; He Is an optimist In spite of all obstructions that arise; “We’ll‘soon begin to make up time,” ha reassuringly replies. The freight at last goes rumbling past, you feel the train begin to Start - And hope comes coyly stealing back to find a lodgment In your heart; You watch the rapid flight through space, but welcome every jolt and jar Till presently you hear that “t+iere’s a hotbox on the baggage car."

Thus all day long by starts and stops the .priceless moments pass away And every switch along the line is set to add to your delay; But even to the bitter end the guard, with faith that is sublime. Keeps promising that “pretty soon we will begin to make up time.”