The slave-dealer collects his gang in Virginia or Kentucky, and drives them to some convenient, healthy place,?often a watering place,?to be fattenedHere they are fed full daily; and, because some incline to pine, a fiddle is kept commonly going among them, and they are made to dance daily; and he who refuses to be merry?in whose soul thoughts of wife, or child, or home, are too strong for him to be gay?is marked as sullen and dangerous, and subjected to all the evils which the ill will of an utterly irresponsible and hardened man can inflict upon himBriskness, alertness, and cheerfulness of appearance, especially before observers, are constantly enforced upon them, both by the hope of thereby getting a good master, and the fear of all that the driver may bring upon them if they prove unsalable
?What dat ar nigger doin here?? said Sambo, coming up to Tom, after MrSkeggs had left the roomSambo was a full black, of great size, very lively, voluble, and full of trick and grimace
?What you doin here?? said Sambo, coming up to Tom, and poking him facetiously in the side?Meditatin?, eh??
?I am to be sold at the auction, tomorrow!? said Tom, quietly
?Sold at auction,?haw! haw! boys, an?t this yer fun? I wish?t I was gwine that ar way!?tell ye, wouldn?t I make em laugh? But how is it,?dis yer whole lot gwine tomorrow?? said Sambo, laying his hand freely on Adolph?s shoulder
?Please to let me alone!? said Adolph, fiercely, straightening himself up, with extreme disgust
?Law, now, boys! dis yer?s one o? yer white niggers,?kind o? cream color, ye know, scented!? said he, coming up to Adolph and snuffing?O Lor! he?d do for a tobaccer-shop; they could keep him to scent snuff! Lor, he?d keep a whole shope agwine,?he would!?
?I say, keep off, can?t you?? said Adolph, enraged
?Lor, now, how touchy we is,?we white niggers! Look at us now!? and Sambo gave a ludicrous imitation of Adolph?s manner; ?here?s de airs and gracesWe?s been in a good family, I specs
?Yes,? said Adolph; ?I had a master that could have bought you all for old truck!?
?Laws, now, only think,? said Sambo, ?the gentlemens that we is!?
?I belonged to the StClare family,? said Adolph, proudly
?Lor, you did! Be hanged if they ar?n?t lucky to get shet of yeSpects they?s gwine to trade ye off with a lot o? cracked tea-pots and sich like!? said Sambo, with a provoking grin
Adolph, enraged at this taunt, flew furiously at his adversary, swearing and striking on every side of himThe rest laughed and shouted, and the uproar brought the keeper to the door
?What now, boys? Order,?order!? he said, coming in and flourishing a large whip
All fled in different directions, except Sambo, who, presuming on the favor which the keeper had to him as a licensed wag, stood his ground, ducking his head with a facetious grin, whenever the master made a dive at him
?Lor, Mas?r, ?tan?t us,?we ?s reglar stiddy,?it?s these yer new hands; they ?s real aggravatin?,?kinder pickin? at us, all time!?
The keeper, at this, turned upon Tom and Adolph, and distributing a few kicks and cuffs without much inquiry, and leaving general orders for all to be good boys and go to sleep, left the apartment
While this scene was going on in the men?s sleeping-room, the reader may be curious to take a peep at the corresponding apartment allotted to the womenStretched out in various attitudes over the floor, he may see numberless sleeping forms of every shade of complexion, from the purest ebony to white, and of all years, from childhood to old age, lying now asleepHere is a fine bright girl, of ten years, whose mother was sold out yesterday, and who tonight cried herself to sleep when nobody was looking at herHere, a worn old negress, whose thin arms and callous fingers tell of hard toil, waiting to be sold tomorrow, as a cast-off article, for what can be got for her; and some forty or fifty others, with heads variously enveloped in blankets or articles of clothing, lie stretched around themBut, in a corner, sitting apart from the rest, are two females of a more interesting appearance than commonOne of these is a respectably-dressed mulatto woman between forty and fifty, with soft eyes and a gentle and pleasing physiognomyShe has on her head a high-raised turban, made of a gay red Madras handkerchief, of the first quality, her dress is neatly fitted, and of good material, showing that she has been provided for with a careful handBy her side, and nestling closely to her, is a young girl of fifteen,?her daughterShe is a quadroon, as may be seen from her fairer complexion, though her likeness to her mother is quite discernibleShe has the same soft, dark eye, with longer lashes, and her curling hair is of a luxuriant brownShe also is dressed with great neatness, and her white, delicate hands betray very little acquaintance with servile toilThese two are to be sold tomorrow, in the same lot with the StClare servants; and the gentleman to whom they belong, and to whom the money for their sale is to be transmitted, is a member of a Christian church in New York, who will receive the money, and go thereafter to the sacrament of his Lord and theirs, and think no more of it
These two, whom we shall call Susan and Emmeline, had been the personal attendants of an amiable and pious lady of New Orleans, by whom they had been carefully and piously instructed and trainedThey had been taught to read and write, diligently instructed in the truths of religion, and their lot had been as happy an one as in their condition it was possible to beBut the only son of their protectress had the management of her property; and, by carelessness and extravagance involved it to a large amount, and at last failedOne of the largest creditors was the respectable firm of
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