Dad had been gone for a week or so, and we were camped near a river and train track. Every day the train would go by, and we were just delighted that the conductor would toot the whistle and wave to us. I think he must have known we were fishing for our supper since we were in the same place every time he saw us. One day as the train went by, the conductor pitched us a package. We took it back to Mom and she unwrapped it. We were thrilled to see funny books, coloring books and crayons. There was a little car and a doll. There was a pretty dress for me, pants and shirt for my brother, Alvin, and some bags of hard candy with every flavor in the world in them. The next day, Mom and my two little sisters came with us fishing. It was a real nice day with the little ones sitting on a blanket, Alvin and I fishing, and Mom sitting with us in the sunshine playing songs on her harmonica with the loaded rifle right beside her. She was always ready to shoot in case she saw a cottontail or a pheasant. Mom was a real good shot. At 4 minutes to twelve, we heard the train coming and we all stood up, waiting for it. The conductor was tooting the whistle and waving to us just as hard as we was waving at him. All of a sudden, he pitched us another package. As he passed by, he could see the sign my mom had made on cardboard and was holding up for him to see. It said
THANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
As soon as he was gone, we took the package to the blanket where Mom was and we opened it. There was shampoo, soap and towels, canned fruit and a real good can opener. Mom said we was blessed to have found such a friend. A few days later, a big, fancy car came to where we were camped and the train conductor and his wife got out. They had brought us a lot of wonderful things to make life more comfortable - blankets, coffee, canned milk, a new big stew pot for Mom, and a big bag of pancake mix with lots of syrup and butter. There was beans, cornmeal, a big can of lard, some salt pork and a big Bible. The conductor said he told his friends at the train station about us, and they had collected all these things for us, and would be happy if we accepted them. Some was new and some was used, but real nice. We were real grateful. After they left, us kids begged Mom for pancakes, three times a day ’til all the mix was gone. The conductor still tossed us packages from the train every day. We really looked forward to getting the funny books, the Sunday funnies page, the candy and treats. Dad came back a week later, and we left the next day, but Mom stalled around until the train came. At 4 minutes to 12, she gave us a sign to show the nice conductor. It said
GOD BLESS AND GOODBYE
|