Trials of the Earth by Mary Mann Hamilton

Author:Mary Mann Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2016-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

The Coming of Civilization

OUR NEW HOME in Bray seemed to us a small palace. When we moved, the railroad was all graded up ready for the ties as far as Tutwiler. The bucker stood on one side of the railroad, our boardinghouse just opposite on the other. Woods were on all sides of us but the right-of-way. When Leslie first saw it stretching away, she looked up and then down. She pointed towards Drew, where the dump stretched as far as she could see, and said, “That end goes right up in heaven.” Then she turned and pointed towards Tutwiler, where the dump made a curve and she couldn’t see far, and shuddered. She clutched Frankie’s hand and said, “That end goes to the bad place, and you are so bad, Frankie, you will get right in it before you know it.”

In a few days the work train got closer, throwing off rails and ties. Negroes were driving spikes, with two or three white men overseeing them. Leslie stayed on the front porch all day long watching, but guarding Frankie, keeping him from going closer. The train got almost to the curve one day, then—bell ringing and whistle blowing—came flying back. Negroes were singing and yelling and running up and down the flatcars. Here came Leslie in the house, sobbing and crying. It was so seldom she cried that I thought she was hurt or had let Frankie get hurt, but when I asked her what the trouble was she said, “Oh, I feel so sorry for those poor Negroes. They are going right back for more of those old ties and will build that road right into torment. Then those white men will shove them off in the fire to burn up.”

I thought it was about time to explain it to her. I told her to get Frankie and come in. I told them all about the railroad, work trains, passenger trains, freight trains, and what they were for, but above all, how dangerous they were, and to stay off the track and keep Frankie off. She said, “I wish we were back in camp. I hate this railroad. It is no good.”

I said, “Yes, Leslie. It brings everything we wear and eat, and it will bring civilization to our country.”

I was working while I was talking and must not have spoken as plain as I should, and she had worked herself up to a fury anyway. When I said “civilization,” she stamped her foot and said, “Mama, you don’t need to tell us any more. If they are to hitch old damnation to that train and bring it in the country then I want Father to move us out.”

I heard someone laugh and looked around. There stood Frank, his eyes twinkling. He stooped down and spread out his arms. “Come here, both you little misguided limbs of Satan. Your mama hasn’t time to teach you the difference between civilization and damnation.”

I said, “I want to hear you explain the difference.

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