Smyrna times., 1877-04-04


for dat" '''''''
Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his heat
medltatively and then resumed his solilo
guy:
"Wen |, declare, ef disser dom bea
preachin' Mus be gun in dar. Eff ain
no gun, den dere ain muffin dere-al
him." -
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the ground
stepped to one side of the house. and will
his pole struck a sharp blow on the bras
knob nearest him. Nothing followed. II,
pried against it with his stick. but still
without effect. He went to the other side
OF the house and repeated his experiment,
on the second knob, but still all remained
quiet.
| Uncle Zeke now drew from his pocket q
skeleton key, mounted the ladder, and in a
trice had opened the paddock which held
! the door.
Oar now, JUS s fought. De boss
done humbug dem fool niger, make um
| tlnk disser house 'witched. Aim muffin
dar, sho 'nuff."
The old darkey reached up and cautious.
" turned the handle. The door opened a
little, and, casting away all fear, Uncle
Aeke boldly reached for the other knob, to
steady himself while he swung back the
door.
Literally like a flash of lightnight the
electric discharge passed t6roug6 him
The mucles of his fingers contracted. and
he could not release his hold of the en-.
chanted handles. At last his feet slipped
from the ladder, and the weight of his BODY
tore his hands adrift. Like log the old
man dropped to the ground, and Law groan.
ing, and generally bewildered.
"Oh, de lawsgoramity Oh, my heabenly
Marster! Who ever fought O. dat Nv
conscience done wake up! my conscience
done wake up! >Heern bout it often, an
now knows it. Oh, my heabenly Marster I!
Ell you lets up on me dis time, Uncle Zeke
neber touch muffin no mo- Clar to good.
ness is changed, change man fom dis
Gay. B-r-r-rr-r-" And what with the
SOCK, the fright, and the fall, Uncle Zeke's
senses seemed leaving him.
Ezekiel! J! said a solemn voice. In
stlnctively Uncle Zeke answered, "Here
me-" and looked in the direction of the
sound. Oh, horror figure clad in white
was nearing him with slow and solemn
steps. As the mysterious visitor approach.
ed, 1t seemed to rise until it lowered to the
nelght OF at least ten feet. The wretched
Ezekiel, on his hands and knees, his ewes
protruding, and his jaw dropped, remained
as if paralzed
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself. and
Its head descending with incredible swift.
ness, smote the unfortunate Uncle Zeke
senseles to the earth.
Three days later, as poor Uncle Zele Law.
racked with rheumatism and tormented
with spiritual fear, upon his bed in the
single room at his cabin, the door opened,
ana In walked Mr.. Smith, of Bellevue.
"Good morning, Uncle Zeke. WHY,
whats the matter with you, old man?"
On, Mis- Smith! Oh, Mis- Smith !
done had some terrible sperences lately.
DE angel OBJ de Lord done wrastle wild me.
an my consc 'ence done woke, an. oh, my
hea6enly Marster, is one suiferin' sinner.
Mis- Smith, is you bn-is you done-is Won
m miss any ting wild dat ar c-corn.house O.
yourn?"
'No, indeed, Uncle Zeke; nobody been
near it. Everything all right now."
AN nobody done touch de lock? Do
lock- ebery mornin'?''
Yes indeed. Why, who do you think
would touch it, old man? p
Uncle Zeke answered not, but his Inns
moved convulsively as he muttered.
9 Knock me down fus, and den lock de do
an took de key. Now | kno,cs it was de
angel OBJ de Lord"
Needless to say that thenceforward
Smiths premises were safe. Pigs might
squeal, "Take me out, take me out :" barn
and corn-crib might be left open; but the
rumor Of Uncle Zeke's terrible experience
had gone abroad among the darkies. and
not man OF them could have been induced
Tor love or money TO land on the shores of |
Bellevue after dark. Smith iudiciouslv |
kept his counsel, and it was MANY months
before he related to me how, with n power. |
.ul galvanic battery, he had shocked poor
Uncle Zeke's nerves, and with the aid of
mask and a sheet on hickory pole, enacted
IN elongating ghost. But he seldom failed |
when he met Uncle Zeke to INQUIRE into |
The state of his conscience, and the
and repentent African would roll
MS eyes piously upward and reply:
Much better, Sar, tank de Lord. Ain
trouble me in long time now, Sar"
But no persuasion has ever induced
Uncle Zeke to relate the history of that
awful night when his coscience awoke to |
trouble him, and the angel of the Lord |
and smote him.-Harper's Maaa. |
zine for ApriK.
WHAT OATMEAL DoEs.-Liebig has shown |
that oatmeal is almost as nutritious as the
very best English beef and that it is richer |
than wheaton bread in the elements that |
A-E