The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-03-27
UNCLE zEKe's CONSCIENCE.


identity may be disguised under the
name of Smith. The newcomer en-
gagged vigorously in farming, and by
liberal employment and prompt pay
ment soon gained the goodwill of all
the colored men around him. Uncle
Zeke in particular was never weary of
chanting his praise, and many bushel
of oysters did Ezekiel convert into money
at Bellevue, as Smiths estate was called.
But all the goodwill of his humble
neighbors did not suffice to protect Mr..
Smith from pilferings. Shoats would
disappear mysteriously during the night,
geese and turkeys would take wing for
parts unknown, and in particular the
corn-crib would frequently show by
unmistakable signs that its sanctity had
been violated. To the story of these
various losses would Uncle Zeke incline
a sym pathetic ear, and his Well, now,
who ever hear de like o. dat clar to
goodness desc yere boys is gittin' wusser
an wussor,' evidenced alike his detesta-
tion of the crime and his contempt for
the offender.
Smiths patience was at last exhausted,
and he determined upon vigorous
measures for the protection of his prop
erty. His first experiment was to place
a large spring rat-tap, artistically con-
cealed in heap of shelled corn, close by
the cat hole in the corn-crb door,. ex-
pecting that the unwary thief, plunging
his hand recklessly through the hole
into the heap, would be caught and held
till some one came to set him free. But
10 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 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
ing 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 a position
that any one turning it must hold on by
the other knob to prevent being thrown
backward by the opening door. Both
handles were profusely decorated with
glass, and elected much admiration from
the hands, who submitted them to
critical examination. The carpenters
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 secure. 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 diverse were the specu-
lations among the darkies. JimOakley
"'lowed Mis-. Smith done 'witched dat
ar corn-house, sho huff Tell you,gem-
men, you touch dem 'ere handles. evil
sperits carry you way. No such ting's
evil speritY How you know dere no
such tingY Hush, boy; go see what de
Bible say bout dem ting" Pete Lee
didn't b'lieve in no sperits; got gun
fix somewhere inside dat house; turn
de handle an de gun go off. Seen dem
tings afore up country, when live in
Goozleum. Another theorist averred
that while Mis- Smith sayin' dat ar
Scripter ober dem handles, he seen
white pigeon come sailin' roun' an
roun' an roun' and done light on de
peak o. de corn-house roof. High tell
you, Sar, sumpin up, sho."
Uncle Zeke, like the rest, was troubled
in his mind, hut, unlike his fellows, he
determined to waste no time in specula-
tion, but to seek his information direct
from headquarters, Prepared with half
hushel of oysters, as an excuse for con-
versation, he sought an interview with
Mr.. Smith, and boldly propounded his
questions.
Miss Smith, what you been a-doin
to dat ar crib o. yourng g''
why, Uncle Zeke, whatdo you want
TO know forY"
"Oh, muffin, Sar; sorter Gurus like
Hearn all de boys tallin bout it--neber
see muffin like dat afore."
We'll, Uncle Zeke, can't very we'll