--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Emmett, Walter collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 9 number: 6 published: 1906-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Walter Emmett, "The Y. O. U. R. Railway: A Poem," *Improvement Era* 9, no. 6 (April 1906): 469–470.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0906unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0906unse start_page: 469 end_page: 470 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1906-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0906unse publication_year: 1906 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1906, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Y. O. U. R. Railway: A Poem THE GREAT TEST. 469 exerting its accomplishments. The ambition, the jealousy, the anger, the pride, are but earthly manifestations, of heavenly virtues, and though they may be perverted and conducive of evil, they are qualities that once performed heroic labors, and may now, if properly handled, be turned again to the same purpose. You are in the midst of an eternal struggle. These few uncertain years of earth-life are scarcely a fraction of the time involved, and uhe object, distant though it may seem, is all the greatness and glory to which your former enlightened self could aspire. No one can endure the ordeal for you, no one can drink the dregs of your bitter cup and gain for you the reward; it is your own labor; your better, heaven-inspired self chose to undertake it, chose it for the reward that could be gained in no other way. God knows your heart, your intentions, he blessed your labors in the obscure past, and with matchless love made possible your ascent to the most exalted planes of achievement. He knows the degree for which you labor, he rejoices at every advance you make towards it. He looks, and loves, and blesses, and feels anxiety, only as an omniscient God can, when the blessed offspring of his own loins is passing through the great test. Grayson, Utah. THE Y. O. U. R. RAILWAY. (For the Improvement Era.) Life's path is a broad-gauge railway, With its numerous bends and curves; It crosses the misty deserts, It twines through the rich reserves; It climbs to the highest hill-tops, It bridges the deep ravine ; And man, as the engine-driver, Must see that the track is clean. Society, Love, and Friendship, Preside at each narrow switch; Each shields from temptation's side-tracks, And guards from corruption's ditch; 470 IMPROVEMENT ERA. The cinders of vice discolor The glories we fain would reap; But, with hands on the safety-throttle, Look ahead, nor be fast asleep ! With conscience, the engine's headlight, Reflecting on faith and hope; With right, as the "head-end brakeman, " When we near the downward slope ; With God to give out the signals, And keep us from sin and fear, May each, on his life-long journey, Be loved as an engineer. Earth isn't a Union depot — 'Tis a side-station on the line; It isn't a one-man's store-room, Its comforts are yours and mine. Look not to the fallen switch-light Which lies in an ill-famed bed, Let Nature's God-painted colors Be signals to move ahead. Heed not the steep, rugged highways ! Each man has his load to bear; Bach engineer draws his pension ; Each mortal receives his share. Heed not temptation's drummer, Nor others that ease may meet; Stay always behind the throttle, And cling to the engine-seat. Each life has its private railway, And heaven is at the end ; We've highwaymen, armed and fearless, With whom we must each contend. Let each keep his seat of duty, And see that the track is clear; Let God be the superintendent, While man is the engineer. ■Ogden, Utah. Walter Emmett.