![[Robert W. service]](SERVICE.JPG)
There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun by the men who toil for
gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run
cold.
The northern lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did
see
Was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge I cremated Sam McGee.
Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee where the cotton blooms and blows.
Why he left his home in the south to roam round the Pole, God only
knows.
He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a
spell,
Though he'd often say, in his homely way, that he'd sooner live in
Hell.
On one cold day we were mushing our way over the Dawson Trail;
Talk of your cold! Through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven
nail.
If our eyes we'd close, the lashes froze till some times you couldn't
see.
It wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam McGee.
And that very night, as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the
snow,
When the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and
toe,
He turned to me, And, "Cap," says he, "I'll cash in this trip I guess,
And if I do, I'm asking that you won't refuse my last request."
Well he seemed so low that I couldn't say no, then he says with a sort of
groan
"It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean
through to the bone,
Yet taint being dead, it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains,
so I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last
remains.
Now a pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail,
As we started on at the streak of dawn, but God, he looked ghastly
pale.
He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in
Tennessee,
And before nightfall, a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee.
Now a promise made is a debt unpaid and the trail has its own stern
code,
In the days to come, though my lips were numb, in my heart how I cursed
that load.
In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round
in a ring
Howled out their woes to the homeless snows, oh God how I loathed that
thing.
And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavier and heavier grow
But on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting
low.
The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give
in,
and I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it hearkened with a grin.
Till I came to the marge of Lake LeBarge, and a derelict there lay.
It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the Alice
May.
I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum,
Then, here said I with a sudden cry was my crematorium!
Some planks I tore from the cabin floor and I lit the boiler fire.
Some coal I found that was lying around and I heaped the fuel higher.
The flames just soared and the furnace roared, such a blaze you seldom
see,
And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee.
Then I made a hike for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so,
And the heavens scowled and the huskies howled and the wind began to
blow.
It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks and I don't know
why,
And the greasy smoke, in an inky cloak, went streaking down the sky.
I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear,
but the stars came out, and they danced about 'ere again I ventured
near.
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said, "I'll just take a peep
inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked," then the door I opened
wide.
And there sat Sam looking cool and calm in the heart of the furnace
roar.
He wore a smile you could see a mile and he said, "Please close that
door.
It's fine in here but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm.
Since I left Plumtree down in Tennessee it's the first time I've been
warm.
There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun by the men who toil for
gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your blood run
cold.
The northern lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did
see
Was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge I cremated Sam McGee.
