SAND WILL DO IT

I observed a locomotive in the railroad yards one day,

It was waiting in 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 pavement, 'cause the wheels are apt to slip;

And 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 the way with travel along life's slippery track;

If your load is rather heavy you're always slipping back;

So, 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,

If those who've gone before you have the rails quite slippery made,

If you ever reach the summit of the upper table land,

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 up on 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.

                                                In Richmond (Ind.) Register.