Memories of Trains

from the childhood of

Lewis Denton

I was raised in rural West Kentucky in and around Henderson County.   My very first encounter with a train  when I was just a child, maybe 3 or 4 years old.    I had never seen a train, not even a picture of one.  I heard people talking about them but that didn't mean anything to me.  We lived a long way from Corydon, the nearest town (population about 200).   We didn't have any form of transportation if we went any where  --  we always walked. 

I don't know why I had never heard that train because the track was about three miles from the house.   Anywise,  Mom and Dad decided to walk to Corydon and take all the children with them.   This was rare because Dad always goes to town for us (wherever that was).  All I knew was that it was where Dad went to get good things for us.  We didn't use the road because it made the trip too long (I guess).  We went through the woods, which was a new experience for me, being so young. After about three miles we came to this funny looking road.  It had iron rails and cross ties, I thought this was strange and asked about it.  Someone told me it was a train track, which didn't mean anything to me.  But it made it easier to walk and I even balanced myself on the track and walked on and on.  

Then it happened.   At first there was a loud noise like I had never heard before, It sounded kind of nice as it was only the whistle.  But then it came closer and closer and I saw this big monster belching out smoke and making a horrible racket!   My
brother Calvin had told me about monsters and dragons when we lay in bed at night   waiting to go to sleep and I was sure this was one of them.   Calvin had told me how fire came out of their mouths and how they would roar and that they would eat little boys alive too.   I knew about them, yes siree! 

Closer and closer it came till finally it was right near us.  My heart was in my mouth.  I couldn't hold the fear any more and started running.  To get away, I ran and ran as fast as my legs would carry me it just kept coming getting closer and closer.  It was following me on the same road I was using to try to get away!   There was only one thing to do and That was to leave the road.   So I ran down the embankment into briars.  They were cutting into my clothes,  pulling and snagging at me, but that didn't matter.  I had to keep going.  Then I came to a fence and I started to climb and all of a sudden something grabbed me from behind!  Oh lord, its got me!  It will surely eat me alive!

I hollered, screamed, kicked, and waved, my arms carrying on something awful.  Then I heard a voice.  It was my dad!   He is the one who had grabbed me -- not that train monster.  All along, he had been running behind me and had just caught up. 

Well, he held me in his arms until that big monster left.  I was sobbing and crying, but I was safe with him.

God Bless Dads.