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Poem
October 21, 1875
The Working Christian
York, Charleston, Columbia, York County, Charleston County, Richland County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Bret Harte's ballad narrates engineer Guild's nightly train whistle signal to his wife in Providence, symbolizing fidelity to duty and love, a tradition known to locals until his fatal accident silences it forever.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Guild's Signal.
By Bret Harte.
Two low whistles, quaint and clear,
That was the signal the engineer—
That was the signal that Guild, 'tis said,
Gave to his wife at Providence.
As through the sleeping town, and thence
Out in the night,
On to the light,
Down past the farms lying white
As a husband's greeting, scant, no doubt,
Yet to the woman looking out,
Watching and waiting no serenade
Love song or midnight roundelay,
Said what that whistle seemed to say:
"To my trust true,
So love to you,
Working or waiting, good-night!" it said.
Brisk young bagmen, tourists fine,
Old commuters along the line,
Brakemen and porters glanced ahead,
Smiled as the signal, sharp, intense,
Pierced through the shadows of Providence,
"Nothing amiss
Nothing—it is
Only Guild calling his wife," they said.
Summer and winter, the old refrain
Rang o'er the billows of ripening grain,
Pierced through the budding boughs o'erhead,
Flew down the track where the red leaves burned,
Like living coals from the engine spurned,
Sang as it flew:
"To our trust true.
First of all duty—good-night," it said.
And then one night, it was heard no more
From Stonington o'er Rhode Island shore:
And the folk in Providence smiled and said,
As they turned in their beds:
"The engineer
Has once forgotten his midnight cheer."
One only knew—
To his trust true,
Guild lay under his engine—dead.
By Bret Harte.
Two low whistles, quaint and clear,
That was the signal the engineer—
That was the signal that Guild, 'tis said,
Gave to his wife at Providence.
As through the sleeping town, and thence
Out in the night,
On to the light,
Down past the farms lying white
As a husband's greeting, scant, no doubt,
Yet to the woman looking out,
Watching and waiting no serenade
Love song or midnight roundelay,
Said what that whistle seemed to say:
"To my trust true,
So love to you,
Working or waiting, good-night!" it said.
Brisk young bagmen, tourists fine,
Old commuters along the line,
Brakemen and porters glanced ahead,
Smiled as the signal, sharp, intense,
Pierced through the shadows of Providence,
"Nothing amiss
Nothing—it is
Only Guild calling his wife," they said.
Summer and winter, the old refrain
Rang o'er the billows of ripening grain,
Pierced through the budding boughs o'erhead,
Flew down the track where the red leaves burned,
Like living coals from the engine spurned,
Sang as it flew:
"To our trust true.
First of all duty—good-night," it said.
And then one night, it was heard no more
From Stonington o'er Rhode Island shore:
And the folk in Providence smiled and said,
As they turned in their beds:
"The engineer
Has once forgotten his midnight cheer."
One only knew—
To his trust true,
Guild lay under his engine—dead.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Guild Signal
Bret Harte
Engineer Wife
Train Whistle
Providence
Duty Fidelity
Fatal Accident
What entities or persons were involved?
By Bret Harte.
Poem Details
Title
Guild's Signal.
Author
By Bret Harte.
Subject
Guild's Nightly Signal To His Wife
Key Lines
Two Low Whistles, Quaint And Clear,
That Was The Signal The Engineer—
That Was The Signal That Guild, 'Tis Said,
Gave To His Wife At Providence.
"To My Trust True,
So Love To You,
Working Or Waiting, Good Night!" It Said.
"To Our Trust True.
First Of All Duty—Good Night," It Said.
One Only Knew—
To His Trust True,
Guild Lay Under His Engine—Dead.