The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-14

Fl - 49, 49, - J ~ 80 r.
Nossuch ting as evil>spfritsN How
do you know dere no such ting!
Hush boy; go see what de Bible say
bout dem ting. Pete Lee adidn'l
blieve in no sperits; got gun fix
somewhar Inside dat house; turn de
handle an de gun go off, Seen dem
tings afore up de country when / lib
in Goozleum." Another theorist an.
swered that "while Mis- Smith sayin
dat ar scripter ober dem handles be
seen white pigeon come sailin'
roun an roun' an done light on, de
peek OBJ de courthouse root, Hi tell
you, sar, sumpin up sho,"SgT stsaa
Uncle Zeke,, like the, rest, was
troubled in his mind, but, unlike his
fellows, he was determined to waste
no time in specializing, but to seek
his information from headquarters.
Prepared with half a bushel OF oys-
tiers as an excuse for conversation, he
sought an interview with Mr.. Smith,
and boldly propounded his questions.
"Mis' Smith, what J ou been doin'
to dat ar crib OBJ yourn p a,,at Is
"Why, Uucle Zeke, what do you
want to know for, ?" WI, esr8ys.g
ooh, muffin, sar, sort OBJ Gurus like.
Hearn all de boys talkin' bout it--
nebber see muffin like dat afo,"o yYI
"Well, Uncle. Zeke, 7 can't very
well explain it to you; butt just al
wise you-don't 60 aear that crib
after dark or you may see something
you don't. like" And Uncle Zeke
departed, revolving many things in
his mind. -.-.. go, j, f.Ilfs,l-
1t was midnight--the hour when
churcbyards are said to yawn, not
with exhaustion, but returning ANNA
ton. In front of the enchanted corn
house stood Brother Ezekiel, q
lengthy pole in his hand and a capa-
cious meal bag over his shoulder. In
silent meditation he stood for some
five minutes, celebrating upon the
best mode of attack. The great
Newfoundland dog bounded toward
him, evidently in rejoicing welcome.
Forth from his pocket the OLD man
drew a savory bit of tried bacon,
which the faithless Bes'en eagerly
devoured, The reflection ended, the
dog lay contentedly on the ground
and. watched the subsequent pro-
ceedings with the air of, a totally dis
interested observer. ,..
"'Clare to goodness, now, nmuttered
l.Uncle Zeke, qwish / un'stood bout
dis ting. Can't be no spring trap
like de las time, kase how be gwine
to spring troo de do? Ke! Ke ! Done
bodder Mis- Smith sho' huff when he
find dat ole rat-trap sprung and muffin
cotch. High! Can't fool dis yere
child wild no traps. No sar.! Done
see to much for dat" q,ff +.
Uncle Zeke paused, scratched his
head meditatingly, and then resumed
his soliloquy-- sa4a # se & b
well, I declare, eff dis yere don't
beat preachin' it mus be gun in dar.
Eff amt no gun, den dere amt muffin
dere-all foos'hness. Anyway, rs
gwine for try him."
Uncle Zeke threw his bag to the
ground, stepped to one side of the
house, and with his pole struck a
sharp blow on the brass knob nearest
him. Nothing followed. He pried
against it with stick, but still with
out effect. He went to the other
side of the house and repeated his
experiments on the second 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 g I fought. DE
boss done humbug dem fool niggers,
make UNI tink dis yere house witched.
Amt muffin dar, sho' nuff."
The old darkeyl reached up and
cautiously turned the handle. The
door opened a little, and, casting
away all fear, Uncle iZeke boldly
reached for the other knob to steady
himself while he swung back the
door. It A8 aSg e1H s5igs.t% ~.
Literally like fash of Tightening
the electric discharge passed through
him. The muscles of his fingers con-
tracted, 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 adritt. Like log the old man
dropped to the ground, and lay
groaning, praying, and generally De-
wildered. a83 aA9lsa
"Oh, de Laws Cor A'mityl Oh,
- 1891 XMhonher