The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-04-18

tuN thi hAii- ~ mus hfAt ~ -
other knob to prevent being thrown
backward by the opening door. Both
handles were proftlsely decorated with
glass, and elected much admiration
from the hands, who submitted them
to a critical examination. The car
penters work being finished, Smith, in
presence of all his colored employees,
solemnly repeated, in front ofthe corn
crib, the first two lines Of the second
book ofVirgifs Alneid. and announced
that his corn was thenceforward secure.
A box, statedto contain SEEDS, was
that afternoon deposited in the crib,
and during the early part Of the ensu-
ing night the proprietor Of Bellevue
secretly busted himself with a coil of
insulated wire.
Numerous and divers were the spec
ulations among the darkeys. Jim Oak
ley " lowed Mis- Smith done witched
dat ar corn house, sho 'nuff. Tell yoH,
gemmen, you touch dem ere handles,
evil sperit carry you way. No such
ting's evil speIit How you know
dere no such ting? Hush, boy; go
see what de Bible say bout dem ting"
Pete Lee "didn't b'lievc in no sperits ;
got a gun fix somewhar inside dat
house; turn de handle an de gun go
off. Seen dem tings afore up country,
when l live in Goozleum." Another
theorist avcrred that "while Mis- Smith
sayin' dat ar Scripter ober dem hand
les he seen a white pigeon come a-sail-
in roun' an roun', an done light on
de peak O de corn house roof. High
tell you, sar, sumpin' up, sho'."
Uncle Zeke, like the rest, was trou-
bled in his mind, but, unlike his fel-
lows, he determined to waste no time
in speculation, but to seek his infor-
nation direct from headquarters
Prepared with half a bushel Of oysters
as an excuse for conversation, hC
sought an interview with Mr.. Smith
and boldly propounded his questions
'NIis' Smith, what you bin a-doin
to dat ar crib O youn"
"Why, Uncle Zeke, what do yol
7 5-snt to llnoF1 f5s' =
ooh, muffin, sar; sorter Gurus like
IIearn all de boys talllin' bout it
neber see muffin like dat afore."
5 "Well, Uncle Zeke, l can't yer,
e well explain it to you; but l just ad
e wise you-don't go near that crib aite
/ dark, or you may see something yo
n won't like" And Uncle Zele depart
!, ed, revolving many things in his mind
0 1t was midnight-the hour whe
churchyards are said to yawn, not wit
e exhaustion, but returning animation
a In front of the enchanted corn hous
G stood Brother Ezekiel, lengthy po
e in his hand, and a capacious meal ba
l. over his shoulder.
y In silent meditation he stood f(
: some five minutes, deliberating on IL
IL best plan Of attack. The great Nev
e foundland watch dog bounded towal
d him, evidently in rejoicing welcom
l. Forth from his pocket the old ms
l. drew savory bit Of fried bacol
Is which the faithless Bos'en eagerly d
Is voured. The reflection ended, Il
70 dog lay contentedly on the groun
S. and watched the subsequent procee
" ings with the air Of totally disinte
IS ested observer.
n, "Clar to goodness, now," mutter
ID Uncle Zeke, "wish't | un'stood 'bo
as dis ting. Can't be no spring trap Ii
20 las time, kase how he gwine
Id spring froo de do? Ke Ike Do
Il, bodder Mis- Smith sho 'nuff when
ae find dat ole rat trap sprong and nuf
re cotch. High Cam fool disser ch
" wild no traps. No, sar done see t
ne much for dat"
u Uncle Zeke paused, scratched
head meditatively, and then resum
> his soliloquy:
y "Well, / declar', eff disser do
u beat preachin' Mus be gun in d
nO Eff aim no gun, den dere amt nul
Y, dere-all foo'shness. Anyway,
- gwine for try him."
=, Uncle Zebe threw his bag to
!. ground, stepped to one side Of
: house, and with his pole struck a sh'
4 - blow on the brass knob nearest hi
= Nothing followed. He pried agai
it with his stick, but still without eft
:, lie went to the other side of the no
~ and repeated his experiments on
second knob, but still all remail
"a quiet.
tho Uncle Zeke now drew from his pc
wo ct a skeleton key, mounted the ladC
10 and in trice had opened the padl