Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-02-15

on the ground ana WatcneQ the SuDSe
quent proceedings with the air of a to
tally disinterested observer.
Clare to goodness, now, muttereC
Uncle Zeke, wish l un n'stood bout di.
ting. Can't be no spring trap like dc
last time, kase how he goin' to spring
froo de do? Ke! ke! done bodder Mis-
Smith sho' 'nuff when he fine de rat-tral
sprung an muffin cotch. Hi! can't fool
dis yer chile wild no traps. No sah
done see too much for dat"
Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his
head meditatingly, and then resumed
his soliloquy:
well, I declar', eff dis yere don beat
preachin' Mus be gun in dar Ell
amt no gun, den dere amt muffin
dere-all foos hness. 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. Moth
ing followed. He pried against it with
stick, but without effect. He went to
the other side of the house and repeat
ed his experiments on the second knob
but still all remained quiet.
Uncle Zeke now drew from his pock-
ct skeleton key, mounted the ladder
and in trice had opened the paddock
which held the door.
Oar, now, JUS s | fought. De boss
done humbug dem fool niggers, make
um tink dis yere house witched. Amt
muffin dar sho' 'nuff. y
The old darkey reached up and eau
tiously 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
electric discharge passed through him.
Tire muscles of his fingers contracted,
and he could not 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
"Oh, de Laws Cor A'mity! Oh, my
Heabenly Marster! Who eber fought
o dat! My consc ence done wake up.
Hearn bout it often. an now | knows
it. Oh, my Heabenly Marster! ef you
let's up on me dis time Uncle Zeke neb-
err touch muffin no mo-. 'Clar to good
ness, is Il change man fom 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 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 Wis
itor approached 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 paralyzed.
Suddenly the phantom bowed itself,
and its head descending with incredible
swiftness, smote the unfortunate Uncle
Zeke senseless to the earth.
Three days later, as poor Uncle Zeke
lay, racked with rheumatism and tor
mented 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 Zcke. Why,
what's the matter with you, old MANI
'Oh, Mis- Smith! oh, Mis- Smith! |
done had some turrible 'sperences late
ly. 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. Everything all right now
An nobody done touch the lock?
Do look cbcry mornin'?'
Yes, indeed. Why. who do you
think would touch it, old MANI"
Uncle Zeke answered not, but his lips
moved convulsively. as he muttcred,
knock me down fus, an den lock de
do an took de key. Now l knows it
was de angel OBJ de Lord.