COUNSELOR—Duty before pleasure. I always keep my duty before my eyes.
When I went to the Alton, a very young man,
Said I to myself, said I,
I 'll work on a new and original plan,
Said I to myself, said I.
I 'll never assume that a road is O. K.,
That it 's perfect, in fact, like the C. and the A.,
Till I 've tried it my own and particular way,
Said I to myself, said I.
I 'll never throw dust in a passenger's eyes.
Said I to myself, said I,
Recommending a road with buncombe and lies,
Said I to myself, said I,
Or pretend that some other roads of which we read
Can equal the Alton for comfort and speed.
Or supply all the luxuries travelers need,
Said I to myself, said I.
Ere I boast of the road, I will travel it through,
Said I to myself, said I,
And see that its officers do what they can do,
Said I to myself, said I.
So I went on the road from the first to the last,
I travel'd with pleasure so safe and so fast,
That I said, such a road can ne'er be surpass'd,
Said I to myself, said I.
On all other roads by which men may go,
Said I to myself, said I,
They 're none of them safe, and they 're all of them slow,
Said I to myself, said I.
The Chicago and Alton must still be A 1.
