The Fireman's Story - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
THE FIREMAN'S STORY. Copyright, 1896, by Frank Harding. Written and Composed by F. V. St. Clair. 
One evening, at a village inn, a fire-brigade man brave Told me a touching story of a chum now in his grave: Together they from childhood's days were friends both true and tried; He told how his old comrade at a fire had nobly died; "As boys we fought each others fights," in pride he did exclaim: "Old chums were we in thought and deed, we differed but in name; A lusting tie of friendship held our hearts together when, At school, we were but boys," said be; "the same when we were men." 
Chorus. Old chums, old chums, chums for years were we; Near each other in weal or woe, we would ever be; Never a moment parted, ever side by side: Oh, what a terrible blow to me when my old chum died. 
One cold November night a fire broke out-my chnm and I Had climbed up on a warehouse roof, both there to do or die; I'd left him but a moment when I heard a heavy crash-Into the flames a fireman fell, Bill followed like a flash: The other man had broke his leg, the flames were scorching them-Did Bill leave that man to his fate? ob, no, he proved a gem: Half-blinded, still be raised the man and brought him from the fire-Yes, saved his life-a man like Bill the whole world could admire.- Cho. 
At last Bill fell in harness-it was on one Christmas eve; The loss of my old comrade caused my poor old heart to grieve; We had been summoned to a fire-Bill, ever to the fore, Went to a room to save a child-he bursted down the door; He got the child and down the fire-escape the youngster sent, Then back to look for others, my old daring comrade went; Just as he got back to the room, the roof fell in and he Was killed-on mercy's mission bent, died there, quite close to me.- Cho.