Document text
Approximately 3,000 words
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TITLE:
aouvi citstoLiq4 IRITT;RS' PROJQT
LIY7 HI3TORY
WING 03 413 EICES
Date of First Writing March 6, 1939
Name of Person Interviewed Michael Hailer (Negvr)
Fictitious Name Mike Hair
Street Address 1407 Park Street
Place Columbia, S. C.
Occupation Peanut Vender
Name of iriter Helen Shuler
Name of Reviser State Office
F -r -e -s -h peanuts! F -r -e -s -h peanuts! Fresh parched peanu-,s.
Any parched peanuts today? Little Spanish peanuts, parched this morn.
This happy call attracted every paserby to a saved -off Negro poem
nut vender.
"Fresh parched peanuts? Yee, ma'am, just parched this morning.
Thank you. Thank you kindly.
I'll 'tv glad to tell you why I can smile all the time. The fall
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after my accident, our church was having a protracted meeting. All of us
young people was going to the meetings just to have a good time. I had
just had this close call to death, and I began to realize that I didn't
know the Lord. One night the preacher told us about -WI book of life. Hs
said that our names must be written in that book or we would be cast into a
lake of fire. I knew that my name was not written in the book, and I knew
that I didn't want to be put into that lake of fire. While I was seeking
the Lord, some of the good sisters got together and preyed for me. But it
seemed that I couldn't get an anwwer. Nye and nights prayed, fasted, and
was sorrowful, but there wasn't a sign. Then one night, way in the yes
small hours before day, I began to see the light. I got a sign from the Lord
and I come through. Such a singing and a shouting in my heart: I couldn't
keept quiet, but shouted out loud. ny mother came running to know what was
the trouble. I told her that at last had found the Lord. And oho rejoiced
with me. After that experience, my heart feels so light and I an happy all
the time, even if I don't have any legs. The train out them off.
"One morning, when was just a little boy, I was walking up the reilp.
road track to my work. 3UW a train in front of me, but I didn't hear the
one behind me. Dr. Houseal and Dr. Gilder operated on no on my mother's
kitchen table. They out my legs off the sane length, as that would allow me
to walk easier. They left a little five inch stub below the knee joint.
Now I wee* my shoes turned around. Ny knees rest in the heel, and the stub
turns back into the toe of the shoe.
"No, didn't go to a hospital. There wasn't one in Newberry at that
time. They didn't have money to send me to Columbia. My mother took care
of me and tried to do just like the doctors told her. In two months Iwee
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up again. Then I had to learn to walk again. 4 didn't know how to stand
upon my knees. At first I just crawled around like a baby. 114, father made
me some crutches, but my knees blistered so bad I couldn't get around that
way. Then bought as a little goat and isogon. I was such a child, I was
tickled to death with the little thing. Ny little friends OKNO to play, and
we took turns riding and driving. sometimes I would put one in the back of
the wagon with we.
"Yos'n, my father sued the railroad for ten thousand dollars. The
case was triad three times, and each time it waded in a mistrial. Ths lawyers
tried to get my father to compromise, but he wouldn't. One day Pa had to go
out of town, and he cautioned mr mother not to sign any papers while he was
gone. But the lawyers same and persuaded her to oompromise for six hundred
dollars. They got half of that. Pa was terrible put out when he got back
home, but it was too late then.
"Dome people tried to persuade me to beg on the streets. They said I
could just ride around in my wagon. But I knew I couldn't be satisfied doing
that. I wanted to be doing something for wool!. As soon as I had learned
to walk again, I began looking for a job. In June, Meg. Golder hired me to
out wood and to work her garden. I worked with her one year. Then she moved
to Atlanta.
"The next job had was with Mrs. T. N. Roger.. This tins I was just
a handy man around the place. I cleaned house, ran errands, took oars of her
children, and worked in the yard. I worked there until 1909.
"When I left Mrs. Rogers, I began selling balloons and pencils and
other trinkets on the street. During the suer I went to noes* towns.
"Mr next trip was to Chattanooga. This time I didn't do so well, and
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I wrote to Mrs. Golder in Atlanta. She sent for as to come help her in her
boarding house. X left her to open a shoeshine stand on Barletta Street,
This paid me two or three dollars a day. Oftentimes at night, after I closed
my stand, I would go and shoot craps with some of the boys. Sometimes I wont
sometimes I lost everything had made for several days. I was having a
grand time. Nothing worried as. The devil was working on as again.
"Ms and one of the boys fell in love with the same girl, and I left town
in a hurry one night. When I stopped, I found myself in Cincinnati. Mr.
me
De Willis gaveVthe job to keep his barber shop clean and to shine shoes.
He furnished the polish and gave no half of the money I made.
"In the fall, I went to the Fair in Mentuoky, and then to the State Fair
in Indianapolis. I liked the vending business better than any other. It paid
as enough to buy new supplies, my train fare to the next town, and something
to eat. I liked to travel. There was a lively crowd followin the Fairs.
We had good tines shooting craps, when we didn't get caught.
"One night some of us boys was gambling in a little shop down an alley.
The police raided our place. The others ran and left me to go to jail. X
had to serve my time, as was broke, but they kept me there only a few days.
As soon as I got out, I went on with my vending, and went as far as Chicago.
But I only stayed there a week, as I couldn't get my license to woad. Graduals
ly I made my way back and went on into New York State. I visited Rochester,
Brie, and Buffalo, and than worked across to New York City. That is a great
place. For the next twenty years, I divided my tine between Mew York and
Jersey City. was there during the World War. When they bek;an drafting ass
for the Arreyo'I reported for duty. But the officers told as it wasn't neces-
sary.
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"Yes, Aew York is a great place. But I have no desire to go back.
I am a different boy now. I am living closer to the Lord, trusting him, and
am happy every day.
"Now I'm coming down to the real thing. Are you a Christian? Then
you know what I'm talking about. I was a young man, just drifting about,
making contacts with all kinds of people. I was big-hearted, generous with
what money I had, and made lots of friends. Some pretended to be friends, but
just all they could out of me. I was careless, didn't go to church, even
went to baseball on Sunday. We all like a little extra money, easy money.
We like to have something to spend, so I continued to play the numbers. I
knew it was wrong to do these things, but it was so pleasant to follow along
with my friends. The Spirit would whip me chastise me just like a father.
Then d do better for a little while, go to church a few tines and read my
Bible. A fw nights later, d hear a voice tempting me, 'Mike there's a
nice little game going on down the street, and all your friends are there hav-
ing a good time. You are sitting here lonesome. Why not join them for a lit-
tle while? You haven't any money. You can't have a good time. Come on,
Mike.'
'The Lord come to me in His Spirit and thowfd me wonderful visions. He
told me to put these numbers I was playing in a cloth and bury them. He meant
that I should stop playing the umbers. I would stop for a while, but the
devil was working, and I was weak. couldn't stop all at one time. But
I made up my mind to trust the Lord; so I stopped playing the numbers and
stopped smoking. That is a filthiness of the flesh.
"In my young days, I didn't know what religion was; but as I am growing
in ;rues with the Lard, things come to me more plainer. When I got older, I
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met good people, and then I saw the other side of life. They gave me Gospel
tracts to read and told me to read my Bible. Four years ago, I made it a
habit to read a part of the Bible every day. It sure will strengthen you.
"In New York, I had a room with a boy friend and his wife. They were
real friends. They treated we just like one of the family. When I would go
home at night and start to read my Bible, friends would drop in to see me.
illhen they'd come in, /'d close my Bible and put it aside. I didn't want to
make them think I was slurring them. I closed my Bible to welcome thou and
make them feel at home. I roomed with my friend several months. One night
while was asleep, sound asleep, the Spirit of the Lord came to me and warn-
ed me to get up and get out of that place get out of that place and go to
Jersey. 1 yoke up, and I didn't quite understand why I should leave those
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friends an* to/Jersey. I didn't know any one in Jersey. So I prayed to the
Lord to make it plainer. was willing for him to lead, and I'd go anywhere.
was already converted all this time, but I didn't belong to any church.
Oftentimes the Spirit had come to me and warned me to visit some church.
After prayed to the Lord to make it plainer, I went back to sleep and the
Lord pointed me to a certain woman who used to live over in Jersey. I went
to her the same week, and she recommended we to some people, hr. and Mrs.
Brown, in Jersey, and I went to live with them. At the time, I didn t fully
understu.nd what it was all about. But, after I got a room with the Browns, I
jo'ned the church.
"I continued to work, shined shoes every day in New York. Made the trip
from Jersey City to New York every day except Sunday. I shined shoes during
the meek and made two or three dollars a day. On Saturday I vended pencils
and made five or six dollars. When I got hone at night, I read my Bible.
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And I became a very good church worker. That's about all I done. At church
tho paople liked me. The pastor saw I was a good man, and he asked me to be
an elder and to sing in the choir.
"At this time, one of my sisters had lost her husband, and she persuade.
ad me to come home to help her. I had synpathy foi- her, and you know there's
no place like the home place, so came and helped all I was able to. I
went back to work with Mrs. T. U. Roger., as a handy man around the house,
for two dollars a week. Mrs. Rogers parched peanuts, and on Saturdays, I
sold them on the streets in Newberry. She gave me twenty-five cents on the
dollar. worked for her from November 1936, until September 1937. I lived
with my sister, and there was a lot of confusion. She had some children, and
there was always a crowd of company coming in. Then I decided to come to
Columbia. Here have a room all to myself. I can go in and shut the door
and it's quiet and nobody troubles me. I can read my Bible and enjoy myself.
"On January 5, early in the morning before day, the Spirit of the Lord
spoke to me. Said, 'Preach,' and woke up. The Lord taught no to get up
in the wee small hours of the morning to pray. Oftentimes in these cold
mornings I lay there lazy and sleeping. The Spirit would wake me up again, an
and then I'd get up and pray. It a habit now. That morning when I woke
up, I prayed, l'ather give me more f ith, more knowledge, more wisdom, and a
better understanding, and I'll go out to preach.' Then I went back to sleep,
and the Spirit made it more plainer. The voice said, read John in
Washinaton Street.' Of course, you meet all kin is of people in Washington
Street. Rut went to Washington Street, and I talked to men and gave them
Gospel tracts I got at the Columbia Bible Gollege. I gave the 4ok of John
to one man and later gave him a New Testament. I told my landlady about my
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vision, and she advised me to '70 to my parson. When I explained to the parson
that the Lord had oftentimee verned me to prench, he was very ruch interested.
He told me to meet with the next Quarterly Conference, on Sunday, for my
examination.
*The presiding elder examined me. He asked me, 'Why do you want to preach?'
Then he asked me why didn't go and preach. I said I didn't think I had the
proper education nor faith enough. But I had promised the Lord thnt would
preach. Then he asked, 'You went e local license?' I said, !fee, I wamt to
go into the highways to preach. I don't want a church.' Then he says, 'Can
you miss a hymn?' I told him I thoulht I could, so he handed me a hymn book
end told me t,) line a ?vain. I picked this hymn, and the audience helped me.
'Amazing grace, how sweet the tvelnd
That oaved a wretch like me;
I once was 1o3t, ut now I'm found,
was blind, but io I 00.1
"After the song was enied, the rresiding elder said that my license
would be there in a fow days. Thile waitin;; for my liceAse to come., was
on trial. I'd go to my church, Bethel Methodist, every Sunday and to prayer
meeting in the week. helped when they needed me. They watched to see how
well I did my work. I haven't received any monay for my services. I don't
want money. I only went to !WV° souls for Jesus.
"Some of the brothers spoke in favor of havim.; me preach, and the parson
said he wo.A.0 apoint a Sunday for me to preach. About a month ago, he gave
ma a trial Sunday. I took my text from the fourth chapter of Philippians end
the eighth verse. It's Paul speakin,;, and roads, 'Finally, b.athren, whets°.
ever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
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whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.' I got along all right. As it was my first time,
I felt that I didn't want to do anything against the pcstor's order. So I
got a chair, placed it besirle the altar, put my book there, and done my
preaching.
"I want to live my life as an example to other peorle. I always pray
to the Lord to show me how to preach awl ask him to use me as an instrument
to hring people to JAM'S*
"I'm going to try my best to preach and to be a good boy. The Lord
has been so good to me that's why I always have a smile on my face. I can
smile through trouble and everything. Disappointments come to all of us
through life. used to want lots of money, but now, if have a quarter, I
am happy; and, if I don't have it, I'm happy. I rejoice in he Lord's sal-
vation. I love that prayer of David, the 51st Psalm. At first I learned
to the tenth verse, but now I know it all.
"The Spirit of the Lord corns to re in my sleep and tells me what songs
to sin: in church. Good Friday night, the last night of my fFst, I was singing
in my sleep. I was singing 'Pass Me Mot, 0 Gentle Savior.' The voice told
me to sing 'Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone, and All the World Go Free?'
And the voice kept saying 15-15. When I woke I thought the voice wanted me
to sing the song over and over fifteen times. But the next day, while I was
at my work on the street, it come to me more plainnr.
The spirit wanted me
to sing the song fifteen tine out on the streA. Just hefore day Master
morning, the spirit told me to use 27. When L got my little rod song book
and lookA up number 27, i found it was that beautiful song,'Love Divine.'
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"Ever since came to Colsmbia, in September, 1939, hove been sell-
ing peanuts on the street. i buy my petnuts down on Assembly Street. They
are already cooked and packed. T pay thirty-five cents for a dozen bags and
clear twenty-five cents a dozen. In the season for boiled peanuts, I sell
from six to eight dozen bags every day except Saturday. On Saturdays, 1
sell tlelve or thirteen dozen. Now, in the winter time, 1 sell from four to
six dozen threugh the week and to or twelve dozen on Saturday. The colored
people like the boiled ones Hotter, but the white peo:le buy more parched.
'Plvery mornin:_; I come down on the streets about nine o'clock and work until
five or five -thirty in the afternoon. On Saturday, I work until isine o'clock
at niht.
"How do I make my call? I just rattle my tongue. 'T -r -e -s-11 peanuts!'
That's just salesmnship. petAnts! Any parched peanuts today?'