Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1878-01-29
Uncle Zeke's Conscience.
now THINGS WERE MIssED-IiiS
"TERRIBLE SPERENCES' = AT

Some wears ago there moved 10
the neighLorhood of Uncle L-ke' 5
CABIN a gentlemen from New oFk,
whose identity may be dlgulSed TN
der he name OF Smith. The new
conner engaged vigorously in farm
ing, and by liberal employment and
prompt payment soon gained the
good>wili of all the cclored men
around him. Uncle Ieke in particu
lar was never weary f chanting hls
praises. aud many a bushel Of oysters
did Ezekiel convert inlO money al
Bellevue, as Smith estate Vas call
cd. But all the goodwill Of his
hunlble neighbors did not suffice to
protect Mr.. Smith from p,tterings, -
Shoa,s would disappear nysteri"u~ly
during the night, geese aud turkeys
would take wing for parts unknown
and in particular, the carn-crlb
would show by unmistakabie signs
that its sanctity had been violated.
To tie story OF these various losses
would uncle Xeke incline a sympa-
thetic ear, and his well, now, who
ever hear de like o dat? 'clar t.
goodness these we're boy, is gittin'
uus,er an wusser." evidenced alike
his detestatlon of the crime and his
contempt for the offender,
Smiths patience was at last eX-
austed, and be determined upon Wig
orous measures for the protection OF
his property. His first experience
was to place a large spring rat>traP,
artistically concealed in a heap Of
shelled corn, close by the cat-hdle IN
the corn crib door, expecting thai
the unwary thief, p!ungiEg his hand
recllesslv through the hole into the
heap, would be caught and beid un>
TIT 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 vauish>
ed and left no trace behind,
At last a good>sizcd box arrived
from New York, uhd the next day
the local carpenter vas ordered to fix
biass handles to the corn-criD; one
to be put alongside the donr for ccn-
venience, a. Mr Smith publicly cx-
planned, OF steadying oue's self while
turning the door. The second han
die bad a iGtcn attached TO it BY
which the door was secured on tlc
Inside, and was set in eaCh 2 position
that any aFe ;aruing It mast hold on
by the ether knob to prevent beng
thrown backward by the opening
door. Rolb handles were profusely
aeco~4 .ed w.th glass. snd elected
mach admirstion fcom the hands.
sho submitted tbCEl to a critica
exaninatio The carpenters work
being fia,shei, Smith in presence OF
all his eogered enpioyeS, soimniy re-
peated IN irent of tie curn-cri5 the
fist t~o lines of the second book OF
VirCil's ".TIneij," aud announced
that bis corn was thenCeiCFward Sc
cure. A box, stated to contain seeds,
VAS that afternoon deposited ia the
crib, and during the early pa5t OF the
night the proprietor of Bellevue Sc
cretlv busted hlmself with a coil ot
! insulated wire.
Numerous and diverse we're The
speculations among the darkies jim
Oakley 'lowed Mis- Smith done
stitched dat ar corn-house, shO
huff. Tell you, gemmen. you tCaci
dem ere handles evil sperIt carry
you way. No such iing's evil sper-
It? How you know dere no such
ting: Hush, boy; 90 see what Dc
Bible say 'bont dem ting" PETE
Lee didn't b'lieve in no sperits
got q gun fixed somewhsr inside dd
house: turn de handle an De gun e
off. Seen dem tiugs aiore up d.
country when | lived in Gocz'eum.
Another theorist averred that "whiie
Nus Smith sayiu' dat ar Scriptel
oher dem handles he seen white
pigeon cone a-sailin' roun' an roun
an roun' an done light on de Frek
o. do corn-house roof, High. tel
yOu, sar, sumpin up, sho.''
Uncle Zeke, like the rest, was
troubled in his mind, but unlike hi'
fellows, he determined co waste n,
time in speculation, but to seek hi
information direct from headquarters
Prepared him a half bushei Of OyS-
ters, as an excuse for conversation, h,
sought an intervieT with Mr. Smith
and boldly propounded his questions
"Mis' Smith what YOU bin a-dOiu
to dat ar crib o'yourn?'
why, Uncle Zrke, what do yo
want to know forE
':Oh, muffin, sar. sorter curion
like. Hearin all de boys talkiu
bout it never see muffin like da
afore."
Well. Cncle Zeke, l can't yer
we'll explain it to you; but | just sd
wise you-doC't 20 near the CRIB af;e
dark. or you may see something yor
won't Ike. And Uncle Zeke d..
parted, revolving mauy things in hi
mind.
1t was midnight-the hour wher
church Yards ase said to yawn. no
with exhaustion, but returning sni.
nation. In front Of the enchanted
corn house stood Brother Ezekiel,
lengthy pole in his hand and a capa.
cious mcal-bsg over his shoulder -
In silent meditation he stood for sam
five minutes deliberatiug on the bes
plan Of attack. The great Newfound
land dog bounded toward him. evi
dently IN rejoicing welcome. Fort
from his pocket the old man drew