Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-04

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kase howhe gwine to spring froo de do
Ke! Ike! Done bodder Mis- Smith sho'
huff when he fin dat ole rat-trap sprohg
and muffin cotch. He! Cam fool disser
chile wild TO traps. No, sar! done see too
much for dat"
| Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his head
meditatively and then resumed his solilo-
quy:
s'Well, 1 declar', eff disser dom beat
preachln'! Mus be gun in OAR. Eff aim
no gun, den dere amt muffin dere-all
foo shness. Any way, rs gwine for try,
him.
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the gro und
stepped to one side Of tho house, and with
his pole struck d sharp blow on the brass
| 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 experiments
ION the seccpd knob. but still all remained
quiet.
| Uncle Zeke now drew from his pocket a
skeleton key, mounted the ladder, and in a
trice had opened the paddock which held
the door.
'Dar now, JUS IS fought. De boss
done humbug dem fool Niger, make UNI
tink disser house 'witched. Aim muffin
dars 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 release his hold of the enchanted
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 groaning,
praying, and generally bewildered.
ooh, de lawsgoramity! Oh, my heaben-
ly Marster Who cher fought o. dat! Ny
conscience done wake upl my conscience
done wake up! Heern bout it often, an
now I know it. Oh, my heabenly Marster !!
| eff you let's up on me dis time, Uncle Zeke
neber touch muffin no mo-. Clar to good
ess / IS change man f'om dis day.. B
r-r-r-r-r-'' And with the shock, the
fright, and the fall. Uncle Zek's senses
seemed leaving him.
| .ssEzekiell" said solemn voice. In
stinctively Uncle Zeke answered, "Here
me,n and looked in the direction Of the
sound. Oh, horror A figure clad in white
was nearing him with slow and solemn
STEPS. AS the mysterious visitor approach
ed, it seemed to rise until it lowered to the
height Of at least ten feet. The w1etched
Ezekiel, on his hands and knees, his eyes
protruding, and his jaw dropped, remain
ed as if paralyzed.
| Suddenly the phantom bowed itself, and
\ its head Dissenting with fncredible-swfft-
ness, smote the unfortunate Uncle Zeke
| senseless to the earth.
Three days later, as poor Uncle Zeke lay
racked with rheumatism and tormented
with spiritual fear, upon his bed in the sim
gle room at his cabin, the door opened, and
in walked Mr.. Smith OF Bellevue. =
'sGood morning, Uncle Zeke. Why,
| what's the matter with you, old man 20
'sOh, Mis- Smith! oh, Mis- Smith, done
had some turrible sperences lately. De
angel % de Lorde done wrastle wild me, an
my conscience done work, an oh, my heb
emily Marster, rs one suferin sinner. Mis-
Smith, is you bin-is you done is you M
miss any ting wild dat az c-corn-house O.
yourn? % =
'sNo, indeed, Uncle zeke; nobody been
near it. Every thing all right now"
SAM nobdy done touch de lock? Do
lock cherry mornin' -
Yes, indeed. Why. who do you think
would touch it old man p
Uncle ZeEe answered not, but his lips
moved convulsively, as he muttered,
knock me down fus, an den lock de do
an took de key. Now L kaaosus it was de
angel ob de ford.''