The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-24
Hearn all de boys talkin' bout it-neber
see muffin like dat afore."

see nu1nn ike DAT afOre.
"Well, Uncle Zeke, l can't very we'll
explain it to you; but l just advise YOU
don't 90 near that crib after dark, or you
may see something you won't like" And
Uncle Zeke departed, revolving many things
in his mind.
/ 1t was midnight the hour when church
yards are said to yawn, not with eLhaus-
ton, but returning animation. In front of
the enchanted corn house stood Brother
Ezekiel, lengthy pole in his hand, and a
capacious meal bag over his shoulder. In
silent me Citation he stood for some five
minutes, celebrating on the best plan of
attack. The great Newfoundland watch
dog bounded toward him, evidently in re-
joicing welcome. Forth from his pocket
the old man drew savory bit of fried
bacon, which the fathess Bos'en eagerly
devoured. The reflection ended, the dog
lay contentedly on the ground, and watched
the subsequent proceedings with the air of
totally disinterested observer.
cellar to goodness, now" muttered Uncle
Zeke, "wish't l un'stood bout dis ting.
Can't be no spring trap like las time,
kase how he gwine to spring froo de do?
Ke! Ike. Done bodder Mis- Smith sho huff
when he find dat ole rat-trap sprong and
muffin cotch. High! Can fool disser chile
wild no traps. No, sar. done see too much
for dat
Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his head
meditatively, and then resumed his solilo-
guy:
"Well, l deeclar', eff disser dom beat
preachin'! Mus be gun in dar. Eff ain
no gun, den dere amt muffin dere-all
foo 'shness. Anyway, Is gwine for try
him."
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the ground,
stepped to one side of the house, and with
his pole struck sharp blow on the brass
knob nearest him. Nothing followed. He
without effect. He went to the other side
of the house and repeated his experiments
on the second knob, but still all remained
quiet.
lHClC L-ChO uoW ulC" HUN illS poChCl q
skeleton key, mounted the ladder, and in
trice had opened the paddock which held
the door.
"Dar now, JUS s l fought. De boss
done humbug dem fool niger, make UNI
tink disser house 'wtched. Aim muffin
dar, sho huff"
The old darby reached up and cautiously
turned the handle. The door opened
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
The muscles Of his fingers contracted, and
he could not release his hold of the en-
chanted 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 bewil-
dered.
sob, de lawsgoramity. Oh, my heabenly
Marster. Who eber fought o dat! My
conscience done wake up. my conscience
done wake up. Heern bout it often, an
now knows it. Oh, my heabenly Marster.
eff you let's up on me dis time, Uncle Zeke
neber touch muffin no mo-. Clar to good
ness rs change man rom dis day
B-r-r-r-r-r-' And what with the shock,
the fright, and the fall, Uncle Zeke's senses
seemed leaving him.
"EzEKIEL." said a solemn voice. In
stinctively Uncle Zeke answered, Here
me- 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 wretched
Ezekiel, on his hands and knees, his eyes
protruding, and his jaw dropped, remained
as if paralyzed.
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself, and
its head descending with incredible swift
ness, smste 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
single room at his cabin, the door opened,
and in walked Mr.. Smith of Bellevue.
"Good morning, Uncle Zeke. Why,
what's the matter with you, old man. ~
"Oh, Mis- Smith. oh, Mis- Smith, done
had some turribe sperences lately De
angel OBJ de Lord done wrastle wild me, an
my conscience done woke, an oh, my
heabenly Marster, Is one sufferin' sinner.
Mis- Smith, is you bin-is you done-is
you M miss any ting wild dat ar c-corn- house
O. yourn
"No, indeed, Uncle Zeke; nobody been
near it. Every thing all right now"
"An' nobody done touch de lock? Do
lock cherry mornin'?'
eyes, indeed. Why, who do you think
would touch it, old man."
Uncle Zeke answered not, but his lips
moved convulsively, as he muttered, "knock
me down fus an den lock de do an took
de key. Now ka0rs it was de angel OBJ
de Lord. "-Harper's Magazine for AprH.
SCRIBNER FOR APRIL.-Of the number
of occasional papers on American sports "
announced by Scribner's Monthly in last