Copperhead Encounter

We had just finished moving a house for a couple near Brenham. After completing the job, the lady asked if we could also move a small 10 ft. x 12 ft. smoke house to a new location. We said, “OK.”

Since we had a lowboy trailer, we could move it on the trailer. This smoke house was sitting about four inches from the ground and since it was not too heavy, we decided to use just one track jack placed in the middle of the building to start raising it.

In setting this jack we would always use a six inch piece of angle iron to put on the lip of the jack to keep the lip from cutting into a soft wooden sill. As I placed this angle iron on the lip of the jack, it fell off the jack and fell farther under the building. Since the building was just four inches high, I couldn’t look to see where it went so I just felt around with my hands.

I still couldn’t locate it so I got down on my knees and putting my face on the ground I looked past the installed jack trying to find that angle iron in the dead grass and leaves. In this process I still couldn’t see the angle iron but I did see – no more than 10 inches from my face – a copperhead snake coiled up and ready to strike. I guess in all of the commotion, I stirred up a sleeping snake. He woke up – and not in a good mood.

I think in all of my days up to then and thereafter, I have never counted on my quick reaction as I did that day. After that I informed my brothers of the snake being under the building. We were very careful in loading the building. Even after it was loaded, we searched around and found nothing. Maybe it went into a hole or just slithered away.

My hair still stands on end whenever I think of being face to face with that copperhead. Over the years I have depended on my guardian angel and his protection from serious trouble. This is one more time I felt he helped pull me back by my shirt tail in the nick of time. Every evening I offer a special prayer and thank him for “a job well done.”