The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-03-30

"Well, declar', eff disser don't bea
preachin'! Mus be gun in dar. E
ain no gun, den dere ain muffin dere-al
foo'ishness. Anyway, Is gwine for try
him."
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the ground
stepped to one side of the house, and will
his pole struck sharp blow on the bras.
knob nearest him. Nothing followed
He 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.
"Dar now, jus's I fought. De boss
done humbug dem fool niger, make um
tink disser house 'witched. Aim muffin
dere, sho huff"
The old darkey reached up and cautious,
| ly turned the handle. The door opened a
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 en-
chanted handles. At last his feet slipped
from the ladder, and the Weight of his
body tore his hands adrift. Like a log
the old man dropped to the ground, and
lay grooming, praying, and generally be-
wildercd.
sob, de lawsgoramity Oh my heaben-
ly Marster Who eber fought o. dat /!
My conscience done wake up! my con-
science done wake up! Heern bout it
often, an now | knows it. Oh, my heab-
emily Marster! eff you lets up on me dis
time, Uncle Zeke neber touch muffin no
mo-. Clar to goodness rs a changed man
fom dis day. B-r-r-r-r-r--" And what
with the shock, the fright and the fall,
Uncle Zeke's senses seemed leaving him.
Ezekiel /" said solemn voice In
stinctively Uncle Zelle answered, " Here
me-" and looked in the direction of the
sound. Oh, horror! A figure clad in
white was nearing him with slow and SOL
emn steps. AS the mysterious visitor APP
preached, it seemed to rise until it lowered
to the height of at least ten feet. The
wretched Ezekiel, on his hands and knees,
his eyes protrudng and his jaw dropped,
remained as paralyzed.
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself, and
its head descending with incredible swift
ness, smote the unfortunate Uncle Zeke
senseless to the earth.
Three days later, as poor Uncle Zeke
lay, rackcd with rheumatism and torment
ed with spiritual fear, upon his bed in the
single room at his cabin, the door opened,
and in walked Mr.. Smith of Bellevue.
Good morning, Uncle Zeke. Why,
what's the matter with you, old man ?"
"Oh, Mis- Smith oh, Mis- Smith,
done had some terrible sperences lately.
De angel ob de Lord done wrastle wild me,
an my conscience done woke, an oh, my
heabenly Master, Use one suferin' sinner.
Mis- Smith, is you bins you done-is
you m-miss any ting wild dat ar corn
house o yourn ?"
mo, indeed, Uncle Zeke; nobody been
near it. Everything all right now"
"An' nobody done touch de lock Do
lock- cherry morning2'
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 fuss, an den lock de do
an took de key. Now knoocs it was de
angel Oh de Lord."-T. l.. McCreadN in
Ra'pe'''s Nagazine for AprH.