Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1915 — HAVE YOU A SAND PILE? [ARTICLE]

HAVE YOU A SAND PILE?

I observed a locomotive In the railroad yard one day; • I was waiting at the roundhouse, where the locomotives stay; It was panting for the journey, it was coaled and fully manned. And it had a box the fireman was filling full of sand. It appears that locomotives cannot always get a grip On their slender iron pavements, ’cause the wheels are apt to slip; So when they reach a slippery spot their tactics they command. And to get a grip upon the rail, they " sprinkle it with sand. It’s about this way with travel along life’s slippery track— If your load is rather heavy, and you’re always sliding back; If a common locomotive you completely understand, You’ll provide yourself in starting with a good supply of sand. If your track is steep and hilly and you have a heavy grade, And if those who’ve gone before you have the rails quite slippery made. If you’d ever reach the summit of the upper tableland. You’ll find you’ll have to do it with a liberal use of sand. If you strike some frigid weather and discover to your cost That you’re liable to slip upon a heavy coat of frost, Then some prompt, decided action will be called into demand — And you’ll slip ’way to the bottom if you haven’t any sand. You can get to any station that is on life’s schedule seen. If there’s fire beneath the boiler of ambition’s strong machine; And you'll reach a place called Flushtown at a rate of speed that’s grand. If for all the slippery places you’ve a good supply of sand. —Ben Franklin Monthly.