The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-24
UNCLE ZEKE.
4 Case of Conscience.

Some years ago there moved to the /
neighborhood of Uncle Zeke'S cabin a |
gentleman from New York, whose iden- |
tity NAV be disguised under the name of
Smith. The newcomer engaged vigor-
ously in farming, and by liberal employ
ment and prompt payment soon gained
the good will of all the cOlored men
around him. Uncle Zeke in particular
was never weary of chanting his praises,
and many bushel of oysters did Ezeki-
el convert into money at Bellevue, as
Smiths estate was called. But all the
goodwill of his neighbors did not suffice
TO protect Mr.. Smith from offerings.
Shoats would disappear mysteriously
during the night, geese and turkeys
would take wing for parts uRknown,and
in particular the corn-crib would fire.
quently show by unmistakable signs that
its sanctity had been violated. To the
story of these various losses would I'm
Gle Zeke incline a sympathetic ear, and
his % Well, now, who ever hear de like
o. dat? Clar to goodness, desc yere boys
is gittin, wusser an wusser," evinced
alike his detestation of the crime and
his contempt for the offender.
Smiths patience was at last exhaust
cd, and he determined upon vigorous
measures for the protection of his prop
erty. His first experiment was TO place
a large spring rat-trap, artistically con-
cealed in heap of shelled corn, close
by the cathode in the corn-crib door, ex-
pecting that the unwary thief, plunging
his hand recklessly through the hole in
to the heap, would be caught and held
till some one came to set him free. But
loi next morning the trap was found
sprung and the heap of corn diminished,
but the thief had vanished and left no
trace behind.
AT last a good-sized box arrived from
New York, and the next day the local
carpenter was ordered to fix two brass
handles to the corn-crib, one to be put
alongside the door for convenience, as
Mr.. Smith publicly explained, of steady
inc ones self while turning the other.
The second handle had latch attached
to it by which the door was secured on
the inside, and was set in such posi-
ton that any one turning it must hold
on bv the other knob to prevent being
thrown backward by the opening door.
Both handles were profusely decorated
with glass, and elected much admira-
ton from the hands, who submitted
them to a critical examination. The car
penter's work being finished, Smith, in
presence of all his colored employees,
solemnly repeated, in front of the corn
crib, the first two lines of the second
book of Virgil's Eneid, and announced
that his corn was thenceforward Sc
cure. A box, stated TO contain seeds,
was that afternoon deposited in the crib,
and during the early part of the ensuing
night the proprietor of Bellevue secretly
busted himself with coil of insulated
wire.
Numerous and divers were the specu-
lations among the darkies. Jim Oakley
Z" slowed Mis- Smith done 'witched dat
ar courthouse, sho huff. Tell you, gem
men, YOU touch dem ere handles, evil
sperit carry you way. No such ting'S
evil sperit? How you know dere no such
ting? Hush, boy; go see what de Bible
say bout dem ting" Pete Lee "didn
b'lieve in no sperits; got gun fix some
whar inside dat house; turn de handle
an de gun 60 off. Seen dem tings aforC
ND country, when l live in Goozleum. >
Another theorist averred that s'whil,
Mis- Smith sayin' dat ar Scripter obel
dem handles, he seen white pigeor
come a-sailin' roun' an rOun' land don,
LIGHT on de peak o. de courthouse roof
High! tell you, sar, sumpin up, sho."
Uncle Zeke, like the rest, was trou
bled I'm his mind. but, unlike his fellows
he determined TO waste no time in spec
ulation. but to seek his information d
rect from headquarters. Prepared wit
half bushel of oysters, as an excuse &c
conversation, he sought an interFie'
with Mr.. Smith, and boldly propounde
his questions.
SMis' Smith, what you bin a-Goln
dat ar crib o. yourn?" r nj
"Why, Uncle Zeke, what do you wan
to know for?''
"0h, muffin, sar; sorter Gurus hk'
Hearn all de boys talkin' bout it-nebt
see muffin like dat afore." 81
"Well, Uncle Zeke, can't very we
explain it to you; but l advise YOU
don't go near that crib after dark, {
You may see something you won't ike.
And Uncle Zeke departed, revolvin
many things in his mind.