The wilting flowers across her breast;

She’d wearied to sleep in their eager quest.

“Save her, Mary![323] For God’s sake run!”

Came Jemmie’s voice like a signal gun;

The mother sprang like a startled deer,

But the rushing train[324] was now too near—

She saw, and swooned[325] with a piercing shriek

That echoed afar o’er the winding creek;

Ay, pierced the boom round the curve so near,[326]

And smote on the ear of the engineer;