The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-08
OLD IKE.
The Boy Listens 10 Witch Story MT Mulkittle Appears Upon the Scene.

The other night when young Malkiule entered the cabin of old Ike. he found the characteristic African in condition far removed from complaoency.
 Draw up Se stool, honey. an so, down. Finds de ole man all outen sorts dis ebenin'.'
 What's the matter. l'hcle Ike
 "Slep' wid de winder open las nigh, an now l'se go; de rheuma,is n de small Q my back"
 Why didn't you shu, the window
 bats de pint, honey. 1: |; n,ee an warm when wen, ter bed but bimeby de win 'gunter blow an de ar got chilly. Thought I'd sit np an she; tie wlnder. bui pulled de klver Ioun me an lad dar lack fool. Now l'se on de ltr. = and the old fellow arose with difficulty and put stick oi wood on the fire. One of the stones. used in the place ot andirons. fell over, and the old m m sald
 "Dat's IL; GU, yer oapers. Eberythtng goes wrong when a man aint able fer hep hissef Needn' think doan know whu,'s de matter, fur does. Needn' think hadn done dropped on desc heah perceegings broom 'gunter shuttle in de cornder las night.
 How shui,ie, Uncle lke!"
 Git up an dance 'roun' like tokes. dat's how. Needn' think when 1 ioun' a bone in my coffee-pot dis mawnin, an ole galluss-" Uncle Ike meant suspen- ner-" "tied 'roun' my bed-pos:. dat didn' fgger dat down mighty fine.
 "Wha, was the matter - asked the boy, opening his eyes with increasing in- terest.
 "rse cunjered, honey. A onpFinci- pul'd nigger hab ,ricked me. knowed sushin' wus gwine ter happen when dA, witch come heah luther night"
 Did a witos come:
 "las, bless yer life. ~Gs e se,,.n' heah by dc ire, when all in A sudden men, de chimbly 'gunter smoke. Dts puzzled me nightly fur d while. bu, bimeby seed whu, wuz de matter heerd mighty scra,chin' an bim, dar come witch down inter de ire. l, wus big black oman wid loose skin She hopped ou,en de fire an danced 'foun' ar shuek otf de ashes. Den she tuck of her skin an hung i, or dat peg up dar an sot down on dat stool-se, still. won, hurt yer-an' 'gun,er rock herself an wall an sing. Uh. huh, says she, mighty long road cross de ole fier inter de bottoms, oh, ho, hi, ho mighty ole sheep whu, goes in de briars, oh, ho, h., ho. Cow bell ring on de slan,in' hillside, oh, ho, hi, ho. got huff O dis. had de remedy, bu, de witch didn know il. I tuck down some red pepper an goin' up ter de skin whu, hung on de peg rubbed i, ID. Den stood on one loo, an says
 i Katie on dc 5ones O de bandy shank, ] Burn ia de day ln' burn n de n.gk, ] buA frog jumps ffam bank ter bank
 Burn de ole witch cl lar outen rny S.gh,
 " Ch. huh says she, an she hopped up an tuck down her skin an pu, i, on, an de Lawd massy, how she wiggled. She few up da; chimbly in hurry, lem me tell yer an heerd her squaIrn' as she runnec Tong de street. Now dat nigger whu, son, de witch heah, habin' failed, yer sec, is try in ter cunler me. Bu: l'se get suthin' heah what fights him mighty hard" and the old man took a rag from his pocket. "Snale shells an snake bones, honey. De cungerer has,er igh, mighty shy O dish heah, an ef i, wan, fur desc dar'd be heep O trouble in dis hezh house.
 1 A rap a, the door caused the old man b start. Come in,s and the Rev. Mr. Mulki,,le entered.
 My son, what are you doing here Listening to this old mans worthless stories and accepting them for truth :: Ike, don | war: you 10 try and make my son believe any of your foolishne.s.v 1 The old man arose and bowed. "f has mighty respeok fur yer, sah, case yer's preacher, bu, doan think da, man what follers de business O talkin' O suthin' what he knows mighty little about