The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-25
CAIRO. ILLINOIS. SUNDAY, MARCH 25 1877.

de do? kc! Ike! Done bodder Mis-
Smith sho nun when he find dat ole rat
trap sprong and muffin cotch. High
Can fool disser chile wild no traps. No,
Sar done see too much for dat
Uncle Ieke paused. scratched his head
meditaiiyely and then resumed his &c
iloquy:
"Well, decclar, ef disser don beat
preachin', Mus be a gun in dere-all
too'shness. Anyway, is gwine for try
| him
tncle /eke threw his bag to the
ground. stepped to one side OF the house,
and with his pole struck sharp blow
on the brass knob nearest him. Nothing
followed. lie pricd against it with his
stick, but still without elect. lie went
| to the other side Of the house and re-
peatei his experiments on the second
knob, but still all remained quiet.
Uncle ZeLe now drew from his pocket
| skeleton key, mounted the ladder, and
and IN trice had opened the paddock
WHICH ntiu the uOoT.
"Dar now, jus . fought, DE boss
done humbug dem fool niger make um
tink di>ser house 'witched. Ain muffin
dar, sho nuff.'
The old darkey reached up and eau
tiously turned the handle. The door
opened little, and. casting away all
fear, Uncle Zeke boldly reached for the
other knob, to steady himself while he
| swung back the door.
Literally like flash of lightning the
electric discharge passed through him.
The muscles OF his fingers contracted.
and he could not release his hold OF the
enchanted handles. At last his feet slip.
ped from the ladder, and the weight of
his body tore his hands adrift. Like a
log the old man dropped Ito the ground,
and lay grooming, praying, and generally
bewiidered.
''Oh. dc lawsgoramity! Oh. my heab-
emily MarstaI. cher fought o dat. My
conscience done wake up! my conscience
done wake mp. lieern bout 1t often, an
now | knows it. on, my heabenly
Marster. ef You lets up on me dis time
Uncle Zeke neber touch muffin no mo-
| Clar To goodness Is a change man ron
dis day. B-r-r-r.r-r-'' And what witt
the shock, the fright, and the fall, Uncle
Zeke's senses seemed leaving him.
| ezekiel. ~ said q solemn voice. In.
stiEctively Uncle Zeke answered, "llere
me- and looked in the direction OF the
sound. Oh, horror. a figure clad il
white was nearing him with slow and
solemn steps. As the mysterious visitor
approached, it seemed TO rise until il
lowered to the height OF at least ten feet
The wretched Ezekiel, on his hands ant
knees, his eyes prOtruding, and his jaw
dropped. remained as if paralyzed.
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself
and its head descending with meredith,
swiitness, sniote the unfortunate Uncl,
Zeke senseless to the earth.
Three days later, as poor Uncle Eek
lay, racked with rheumatism and tor
mented with spiritual tear, upon his bet
in the single room at his cabin. the door
opened, and in walked Mr.. Smith o.
Bellevue.
''uoOu morning Uucle Zeke. Why
whats the matter with you, old man."
"Oh, Mis- Smith. oh, Mis- Smith,
done had some terrible sperences lately
De angel oh dc Lord done wrastle wild me
an my conscience done woke, an, oh
my heabenly Marster, Is one sufierin
sinner. Mis- Smith, is you bIn-ls yol
done-is you m-miss any ting
wild dat arc-cOrn-huse o. yOurn:''
mo, indeed, Uncle Zeke; nobody
been near it. Every thing all RICH,
now
AN nobody done touch de lock
Do lock cherry mornin?''
"Yes, indeed. Why. who do you
think would touch it, Old man? -
| Uncle Zeke answered not, but his lips
moved convulsively, as he muttered
KNOCK me down fus, an den lock dt
do an took de key. Now | knows i
was de angel oh &c Lord."-T. l.
M'Cready, in HHpey's Magasins to'