Engineer's Child Lyrics

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 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