The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-07
Uncle Zeke'S Conscience.

Uncle Zeke'S conscience.
Some years ago there moved to the
neighborhood of Uncle Zeke's cabin a
gentleman from New York, whose iden-
tity may be disguised under the name of
Smith. The new conner 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 a bushel of oysters did Ezekiel
convert into money at Bellevue, as Smiths
estate was called. But all the good will
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 fire.
quently show by unmistakable signs that
its sanctity had been violated. To the
story of these various losses would Uncle
zeke incline sympathetic ear, and his
'Well, now, who ever hear de like O dats
clar to goodness desc yere boys is gittin'
wusser an wusser," evidenced alike his
detestation of the crime and his contempt
for the offender.
Smiths patience was at last exhausted,
and he determined upon vigorous meas
ures for the protection of his property.
His first experiment was to place large
spring rat-trap, artistically concealed in
= heap of shelled corn, close by the cat
hole in the corn-crib, expecting that the
unwary thief, plunging his hand reck-
lessly 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 corncrib; one to be put
alonside the door for convenience, as Mr..
Smith publicly explained, of steadying
ones self while turning the other. The
second handle had latch attached to it
by which the door was secured on the in
side, and was set in such 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
giass. and ELECTED much admiration from
the hands, who submitted them to a crit
icai examination. The carpenters work
being finished, Smith, in presence of all
his coiored employees, solemnly repeated,
in front of the corn-c crib, the first two
lines of the second book of Virgl's
HSneid, and announced that his corn was
thenceforward secure. A box, stated to
contain seeds was that afternoon deposit
ed in the crib, and during the early part
of the ensuing night the proprietor of the
Bellevue secretly busted himself with q
coil of insulated wire.
Numerous and diverse were the specu-
lations among the darkies. Jim Oakley
1lowed Mis- Smith done 'witched dat ar
courthouse, sho huff Tell you, gemmen,
YOU touch dem ere handles, evil sperit
carry you way. No such ting's evil
sperit2 How you know dere no such
ting2 Hush, boy; go see what de Bible
saw bout such ting" Pete Lee "didn'
blieve in no sperits; got gun fix some
whar inside dat house; turn de handle an
de gun 90 off. Seen dem tings afore up
country, when l live In Goozleum."
Another theorist averred that 'while Mis-
Smith sayin' dat ar Scripter ober dem
handles, he seen white pigeon come a.
sailin' roun' an roun' an roun', and done
light on de peak o. de courthouse roof.
High tell you sar, sumpin' up, sho."
Uncle Zeke, like the rest, was troubled
in his mind, but, unlike his fellows, he
determined to waste no time in specula-
tiou. but to seek his information direct
from headquarters. Prepared with hall
abushel of oysters, as an excuse for con
versation, he sought an interview with
Mr.. Smith, and boldly propounded bis
questions.
"Mis' Smith, what you bin a-doin' to
dat ar crib o. yournf'
aWhy, Uncle Zeke, what do you want
to know fort"
"Oh. muffin, sar; sorter Gurus like.
Hearn all de boys talkin' bout it-neber
aee muffin like dat afore."
swell, Uncle Zeke, / can't very we'll
explain it to you; but l just advise you
don't 70 near that crib after dark, or you
nav see something you won't like"
And Uncle Zeke departed, revolving
many things in his mind.
II vas midnight-the hour when
church gard. are said to yawn, not with
exhaustion, but returning animation. In
ftout az the enchantsd cJrn-house stood
Brother Ezekiel, . lengthy pole In his
had, and cspacicus meal bag over his