Take Us the Foxes

The owner of the peanut picker was a red-eyed, red-necked elderly Cracker from neighboring Clarion County who drank excessively and whose breath reeked with alcohol at all times. He also rarely spoke a sentence that wasn't either profane or obscene and sometimes both profane and obscene. At one time the peanut picker broke down and the old man cursed, screamed, raved, and pitched the most fanatical, frenzied, fit Enoch or the boys had ever seen. He cursed the old broken down machinery violently, picked up an axe and slammed it squarely in the center of the old picker. Immediately it began operating smoothly again, but in his excitement and rage he threw his brand new straw hat into the feeding entry of the picker. The straw hat was ground up in the thresher and baled into hay. Matt and Bart roared hilariously, but Enoch took it upon himself to convert the poor lost soul. "Brother, we are all God's children, and He loves us all. You shouldn't act like this."

"Well, don't nobody need God's love to run a peanut picker," was the old man's instant reply.

"But brother, it doesn't do any good to carry on in such an ungodly manner and take the name of the Lord in vain," continued Enoch.

"How the hell, would you know. You don't own nor do you have to run a @*#@#* damned peanut picker."

Enoch was getting nowhere so he decided to try another approach and lectured the old man in a stern reproachable manner. "Brother, I'm concerned about your soul. You're sure to burn in hell if you don't change your ways and repent."

The old man's red face became redder as he stormed into Enoch. "Who are you to judge somebody like me? I've got enough problems with this damned old peanut picker without listening to your lectures concerning my soul. I know I'm not perfect, but neither are you, nor anyone else. Besides, when I'm judged I'll be judged by the Almighty Himself, not by a half-assed, two by four, jack-legged holiness preacher like you!"

Enoch stood amazed as he shook his head and walked back to check the hay. Matt was feeding the hay-baler, and Bart was stacking the bales of hay which would be hauled in as soon as the peanut picking was completed. The hay was of good quality and it would be a big portion of the mule's diet during the coming year. Fortunately the peanut picking crew had four men who were good experienced help, and they provided the extra help involved in feeding the picker, (which was by far the worse job). They also helped carry the tubs filled with peanuts and poured them into the two-ton truck which transported the peanuts to the buying station. Enoch shifted from job to job but his main task consisted of driving the rig that carried the stacks of peanuts to the picker. The rig usually consisted of the front two wheels of a one-horse wagon that was outfitted with a device especially suited to drag and transport a stack of peanuts to the picker. The picker was stationary so all stacks of peanuts within the field were brought to the picker for threshing. The rig operator drove the mule and walked just even or behind the rig. Bart could handle any job necessary for the entire operation, so he and Enoch constantly interchanged positions and even helped relieve the man who fed the picker. Feeding the picker was a tiresome job carried on manually by simply feeding the peanuts and hay into the picker with a pitchfork. One thing for sure, old Enoch had to stay close by because the harvesting operation required constant cooperation and close attention at all times.

On Saturday at noon approximately five acres remained to be harvested, and it became apparent that it would be difficult to complete harvesting the peanuts. Enoch approached the old man who owned the peanut picker and said, "Looks like we ain't gonna git through by sundown. Guess you'll have to finish Monday."

"Monday! Did you say Monday? Hell, no if'n I'm alive, I'll be back in Clarion County Monday morning. We'll work on Sunday and finish up."

"Brother, I hate to tell you, but I pastor the Alapaha River Apostolic Church and I'm gonna be in my church where you oughta be tomorrow morning."

"Well, friend, I don't give a hoot in hell where you pastor, and like I told you once before don't tell me where I'm supposed to be or what I'm supposed to do. But I'm either leaving here tonight or tomorrow at noon. It's up to you to decide. Anyway, since you're such a Bible genius, ain't you never heared of the "ox in the ditch?" Jesus had to tell them ole fairysees that when the ox was in the ditch, you had to git him out, on Sunday or any other time. Well, friend, you has got a ox in the ditch and these here peanuts oughta been picked a month ago. You're losin' a lot of em now. You see, preacher, yore so almighty religious you can't see nothin' but your way. You gotta cast out the moat in yore own eye. I ain't a accusing you of be'n a hypocrite like you judge me, but think preacher, think." The old man walked off and left Enoch in a daze.

Bart and Matt listened intently. They had never heard anybody talk to their father like this before. After a long silence Bart finally addressed his father, "Pa, I think he's right. You owe God an obligation to keep His laws, but God expects you to provide for your family and be honest with Mrs. Duncan who owns one-half of these peanuts. Now there's one Commandment that says somewhere, "Thou Shalt Not Steal." Ain't you taking a part of Mrs. Duncan's peanuts if we lose em by waitin' till we find somebody else to come and pick 'em."

"You shet up, son, and let me do the talking around here. You just listen," bellowed Enoch.

"You better do the listen', preacher," shouted the old man, "cause come Monday morning, whether it be the Sabbath, the fourth of July, or Judgement day, I'm pulling out of here," shouted the old man who walked away toward the peanut picker which was beginning to knock and struggle again.

Enoch faced a dilemma. He knew he had to preach on the following morning, and he also realized that if this man left, he would leave several tons of peanuts worth hundreds of dollars. He finally wandered off to himself and asked the Lord to direct him. About this time, up rode his friend and neighbor George Wright. After talking over things with George, he became convinced that he was obligated to do both. George graciously agreed to take his place in the peanut patch, and Enoch would be free to preach. Both agreed that some church members would be annoyed, upset, and outraged if their pastor worked on the Sabbath.

The harvesting of the peanut crop was completed by 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. George Wright worked well with the old man, and Matt and Bart were relieved that this part of the 1945 crop was finally completed.