Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-11
A ".cONJUReD" NEGRO.
How He Knew He Was "Conjured THE
Esprit" Told Him to Look Under
the Doorstep-He Found IL.
Written for the Dispatch.


written for the Dispatch.l
The writer OF that remarkable produc-
ton. Uncle Toms Cabin" did not cor
rectly portray the old-tlme plantation
darkev as he really existed before the war,
when the Constitution of the United States
was the great bulwark of American liberty.
Mrs. Stowe certainly did not know my
Uncle Tom. at least. For happier or a
more contented being did not exist. Inc
darkest day of his life was when he heard
that he WAS free man.
WHAT" he exclaimed, "Igwiu ter lose
Marse and Missusp Who gwinter look arter
me. Sure Marse Lincum amt gwlne Ter
cum and take care o. me. Go long VIA
Won, niger, Amt gwine no whar 90,
He was little. old, dried-up darky with
An abundant shock or white wool upon
his head, and his face was also thckiiy
matted with the same whlte, woody sub
stance. His chin, however. was invariably
clean-shaved and well creased. IL made
him look 'ristocratic." he said. lie hrmly
believed in the ideas advanced by John
Jasner-that the sun moved-snd all the
scentsts and philosophers OF ages could
never have convinced him TO the contrary.
In Uncle Tom the Rev. John Jasper pos
sessed powerful ally.
He had witnessed one circus perform
snce when one small elephant and hump
backed camel. led by string, composed
the entire menagerie, aud was, considered
a wonderful aggregation OF the mysteries
of nature"
sUPERsTITIoNs.
Uncle Tom was superstltious TO re-
markable degree and lived IN mortal dread
of being cOniured." One day very
amusing incident occurred. lie sent for
me IN great haste to come NJ once to his
cabin. [ found him seated upon low
chair under the widespreadlng branches
of a MAGNIFICENT oak which lowered high
above his humble abode. He was .groan-
ing aloud and appeared to be IN the deepest
"Msrse Dick he said, "its cum at las.
Use clean dun for. Use dead right now.
onlyst de BRET in dis body doan know 1t
Wit. Use cuniured, Marse Dick, Zen dat
rascal Sam dun an dun 1t. lie lowed as
how he'd fix me. becase | refused 10 len
him nv bes' 'possum dog. an now rs goln
straight 10 glory 10 my time"
How do you know you have been con-
jured. Uncle TomI"
"pE sPERIT TOLD HIN.
How duse know it ] knows 1t by de
sperit. DIS mornin' | rls wild dc awtuIest
pain in my lef knee. Sho now, saGs 20
mysef, what's dc madden wild M: DE
Sperit ans'ered and said
- Uncle Toni
"Yes, Lord says |.
"'Hou's been coniured, Uncle Tom.
Look under de doorstep
II looked under de doorstep, and. sure
nuf. | foun it all wrapped uD Jes as you
see it lyln' dar by dat tree
| | assured him that the find" was HARM
| less. and probably had been placed there
| To frighten him, and that the whisperlngs
of the "Sperit was all Imagination
mo Imagination bout 1t. sab hurd
de Sperit speak Jes' as PLAIN as hears You
| dar talkln' dis minet. An d,dat fne ~"
be SAID with emphasis, by way Of a clincher,
"an' | poked it wild nv stick, fur to tech
| it would be instan' def
Il was useless 10 attempt by argument
TO convince him that the package could
| not possibly harm him by being under his
| doorstep so took the little bundle in my
| hands and opened 1t.
| old and feeble as he was. his ewes pro-
| truded from their sockets, and his mouth
few wide open.
| Dick gwine ter die. too, now, sho'. lie
| dun took de conjure in his hans Holy
! Moses, sabe US, misrubble sinners!
WHAT IT WAS.
The conjure proved to be several dry
| roots rolled in hog hair. ! rubbed 10 all
over my hands to the great horror OF Uncle
| Tom. "Marse Dick, you dun an Kilt
yo'sef, an only one thing can saoe you
| now"
What Is that ?" asked. =.
Git lizard, Maise Dick, an bite his
head of wild yo' teef an rub de blood on
yo' hans when you dun handled de pizen
an dat may cure you" 80,
Tie very suggestion sent the cold chllIs
racing down my back. learned later that
the negro Sam put the package where
| Uncle Tom found 1t, and then informed
| him of il by whispering the words Uncle
| Tom had really heard through an opening
at the rear Of his house.
The old man was never fully convinced,
| however He chung TO the idea that the
| voice he heard was not Sans. but the
voice of the "Sperlt." 70 tell of the many
curious incidents connected with the life
OF the old.fashioned negro would fill many
chapters. Only those raised on the plan
tations and familiar with the darky can
really know anyt hing about this curious
snecimen of humanity. ID. e. 5.
| WurpoN q Dpppm her 10. 1872,