"I'm at work upon the railroad"--
So the brother's letter ran,--
"I'm at work upon the railroad,
With the wages of a man.
"I am up at peep of morning,
And I only stop to eat;
But I bear it all extremely well
Except the noon-day heat.
"I do not feel much homesick,
Though I think of other scenes,
And what you have for dinner
When I eat my pork and beans!
"'Tis the time for pies and dumplings,
Currant jelly and all that,
For an hour in mother's pantry
I'd give my bran-new hat.
"You wrote about the chickens,
About the crops and hay;
But not a word about the colts--
The black one or the gray.
"Tell father not to worry
About that note at all:
I shall have a hundred dollars
I can send him in the fall.
"You cannot think how proudly
It makes my bosom swell,
To think that I am toiling
For those I love so well.
"Tell mother I remember
Her parting words to me;
And all that she has prayed for
I hope I yet may be.
"The workmen bring the bottle,
They say, 'Just take a sip;'
But, mother, _not a single drop
Shall ever touch my lip._
"Here's a kiss for brother Charley--
The little roguish elf,
I hope he'll not forget me,--
And another for yourself.
"How much I want to see you
I will not try to tell;
I never knew I loved my home
And all my friends so well!
"My lamp is burning dimly,
So, sister dear, good-night;
Think often of your brother,
And don't forget to write."
The sister read the letter
With a look of pride and joy;
And the father and the mother said,
"God bless the darling boy!"