latenight
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Ky.
Posts: 401 |
21 years
I started hunting with a blind colored man named Henry, that lived down the road from me, he taught me how to listen to the woods, and the hounds. He also taught me much more about life, and not to be afraid of what lays around the corner and to persue my dreams.
When I started hunting with him he had 2 dogs, a Redbone named "Scarlet" and a grade Walker dog named "Bone". I used to walk down to his place when I was about 10 years old, and he would go get the dogs, funny thing is he knew I was coming before I got to his yard. He would go get the dogs, and we would walk out behind his place and let the go. I remember him telling me that he could see his dogs better after he went blind than he could when he could see.
I admired his courage, and he inspired me to do so many things growing up. I walked up to his house one day to go fishing with him, and he was sitting on his rocking chair not saying a word. I asked him what was up? and he told me Bone died last night, while he was telling me I saw the only tear I ever seen the man cry run down his cheek. I asked if he was alright and he said yes he still had Scarlet, but hunting with old Scarlet was not the same as with Bone. Scarlet just couldn't track fast enough to tree some of those old wiley coons around southern Mississippi.
Henry all but quite hunting, for a while. I grew up and went to collage, got my degree and moved to Louisville, Ky. I went home about seven years ago, before going I was reading a Cooner Mag, and a man had a three year old walker dog for sale for 1,500 dollars, I called him and asked if I could come by on my way home and hunt with him, he said that would be fine so I went and hutned with the dog liked him, and bought him. When I got home I went by Hery's place and told him to come out to the truck, because I had something for him. Henry who was somewhere around 68 years old then jumped up and came out to the truck and I gave him his new Walker dog "Timber". He shed the second tear I ever saw the man cry that day and thanked me over and over, he asked "can he tree a coon?" I said well he treed 3 last night by himself! I guess you'll find out tonight won't you.
Henry and I went out that night and treed 2 coons on the outside that "we seen". I go see Henry every chance I get when I'm home, a nicer fella the world has never seen. He still takes old Timber out once in a while but not to often, usually when I'm down home I will take my dog with him, and we will tree one. At 73 years old he can still get through the woods, blind and all.
I'm not looking forward to the day ol' Henry leaves us but God will be getting one of the best souls he's ever seen.
Latenight
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08-11-2005 06:15 PM
