The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-04-12

DedVer nat CruSneQ IN at Gne crown
the better half of bottle-green hunt,
ing jacket united with the remnant o1
a clerical-looking broadcloth coat
bright, yellow canvas pantaloons, and
gold spectacles inherited from sole
mars" He had once been a power
among his people, but had fallen on
evil days. His name was Ezekiel
chosen by his mother because it was
"oncommon." Nor was Ezekiel s
name, as l afterwards learned, his only
''oncommon" possession. He mani
tested in an unusual degree the su-
perstitious tendency of his race, and
early amused his young master by his
goblin and witch lore, his own crea-
tions for the most part, or the tradi-
tions of his people to which he accord
ed unquestioning belief. In his turn
he heard from ''young mars" the nur-
sery fables and legends generally told
to children. He accepted all in the
good faith which he was taught to re-
pose in the Bible, reconciling them
and sustaining one with the other,
with satisfaction steadfact and in
corrigible. Jack the Giant-killer was
associated in his mind with David, the
slayer Of Goliah, and he preached ser
mons after becoming a parson on
both incidents. Lately he had been
brought under the influence of one
Ebenezer, "yaller" individual, sup
posed to possess the ''evil eye" and
considered by the Mississippi negroes
a coniurer Of rare skill in all dark and
preturnatural arts. The negroes
throughout the South manifest un-
limited confidence in the dread power
of the magicians, who produce various
alleged effects corresponding very
nearly to and evidently derived from
fetichism. This superstition,
though modified and mingled with
the customs and beliefs of their adop-
ton, has clung to the race whose Ian
guage is lost and whose home is for
gotten. The conjurer is supposed to
exercise power over certain herbs
known only to himself, which he en-
dows with the germ Of malignant life
and mixes with the food and drink of
his victim, who Immediately is said
to be under SPELL" Some fiendish
animal is thought within him tor
and oftentimes controlling
him. Life becomes a burden, he is
conjured. and the magician alone can
relieve him or in light cases one of
his own race, claiming acquaintance
with the process Of the art and called
a coniure doctor.
Uncle Ezekiel's natural credulity
made him an easy prey to the malady.
He believed himself stricken by Eben-
ezer's arts and in the power of a ser
pent which actually dwelt within him.
Death was a boon to be prayed for.
He thought himself the victim Of a
moral leprosy and that he must be
avoided by his people.
When l came within hearing, he
was setting forth Ebenezer's crime
and his own misfortune in vivid terms,
accompanied by inimical tones and
gestures that I lack the power to por-
tray or even to suggest. He also gave
bis views on Egypt and the Red Sea.
These | now recall with greater in
terest than they excited then, for I
afterward made Intellectual efforts to
convince Uncle Ezekiel that his cher
ished Mississippi Egypt was only the
namesake of the corn-bearing land
into which Joseph was sold by his
brethen, and that the neighboring
Red Oak swamp was not the Identical
Red Sea over which Moses and his
hosts were miraculously conveyed.
He scorned such an innovation upon
MS convictions. One might as we'll
preach Universalism to him in place
IF the burning retribution which was
MS most vivid conception Of Orthodox
doctrine
"Dese kungers allus 'boun 'roun
Equip sence Fadder Moses time; dey
was workin OBJ spells tell he got clar
cross de Red Sea. Me an Br'er Dave
,teddied powerful bout dat Red Sea
1ueshun, an we low dat dat ar Red
Sea gotter ben sechiwated somewhar
bout Red Oak swamp. It's 'bleedged
;er; whar else dat swamp got its name?
It's dried clar up desc days, but dar's
ts name. Oar amt no yother Egup.
Oars Br'er Abram ben travelin' pow
erful; cum from North Caliny dis day
year, an he aint seed no yother Egup
out dis. Let dem as amt satsfyd wild
lis Egup set der hearts on t'other one
vat nobody aint never seed. Dis yer
Equip good 'nough fur me an | reck-
n ole Fadder Moses never made no
complaint Nv it. Yer all knows how
Eb'nezer charmed de milk wat he vi
led me ter drink, an sence den a sar-
pint TUX hole Nv me an de misery"
Here were unanimous Interruptions
for vengeance, ETC., threats to "ku-
zlux" or make way with the despised
Ebenezer. Uncle Ezekiel looked at
MS angry flock in silent dismay, lifted
both arms warningly and brought
hem down, exclaiming, "'Tend wild
Eb'nezer! Flee befo' him. Done let
lat eye NV his'n rest on yer" Here
followed audible murmurs of assent
from his hearers, which heightened
nto walls as he continued.
Use gotter leave yer! we's all dis
appointed in Ezekiel; many silk tas-
sci turns out nubbin' in de fall, but
Ter hunger done it. l have TUX ter
lreamin' Dreams" he went on sadly.
Il dreamed de udder night dat dere
was spots on de sun big as hen eggs,
an de moon was red, an de stars was
a fightin' one wild de yother, an |
,teddied powerful bout dat dream,
and | lowed dat Judgment day was
lrawin' moughty nigh. Leastways,
we amt got long ter tarry. Fo' long
dat trumpet gwine ter call us ter
glory. An when | shot my eyes |
dream agin, an dis yere dream was
Gurus. 'Peared like DIR was