Library of the best American literature / Containing the lives of our authors in story form, their portraits, their homes, and their personal traits, how they worked and what they wrote; choice selections from eminent writers, embracing great American poets and novelists, foremost women in American letters, distinguished critics and essayists, our national humorists, noted journalists and magazine contributors, popular writers for young people, great orators and public lecturers

by Unknown

Afore the smokestacks fell—

And Bludso’s ghost went up alone

In the smoke of the Prairie Belle.

He weren’t no saint; but at judgment

I’d run my chance with Jim,

’Longside some pious gentlemen

That wouldn’t shook hands with him.

He seen his duty—a dead-sure thing—

And went for it thar and then;

And Christ ain’t a-going to be too hard