The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28


Cs.prrs XII.-Selsa Incidents Of LawfA Trade
sin R.msh there was voice Thanksgiving and lsme1-
-, sd 1reat mourning; Rachel weeping for her chill
dren and would not be comiorteo
Mr. Haley and Tom logged onward IN their
wagon each for time absorbed In their own re-
factions Now, the reflections OF two men sitting
eide nv side. are curious thing-seated on the
soms seat having the same eyes, ears, hands, and
organs of all sorts, and having pass before their
eves the same objects-it is wonderful what va
riety we shall find in these same reflections
Az for example Mr. Haley, he thought first OF
TOMS length, and breadth, and height, and
what he would sell for, If he was kept fat and in
GOOD case till he got him into market. He thought
Of how he should make out his gang; he thought
Of the respective market value of certain supposi-
tods men and women dua OhlSs- -s.st5s9 =s-s -
compose It. and other kindred topics Of the bust
pr-,S-,hSS s.soagil ni,,,-eiis.s5 ~ ',s=s;,e
he wss-that whereas other men chained their
pigeers, hand and foot BOTH he only put letters
on the feet, and left Tom the use Of his hands, as
long as be behaved we'll, and he sighed TO think
how ungrateful human nature was, 90 that there
was even room to doubt whether Tom appreciated
his mercies. He had been taken in so by niggers
whom he had favored but still he was astonished
to consider how gOOd-natured he yet remained
As to Tom, he was thinking over some words
of an questionable old book, which kept running
through his head, again and again, as follows
ave have here no continuing city, but we seek
one TO come wherefore God himself is not
ashamed to be called our God; for he hath pre-
pared for us a city" These words Of an ancient
volume, got up principally by Ignorant and I'M
learned men," have through all time kept up,
somehow, a strange sort of power over the minds
of poor, simple fellows, like Tom. They stir up
the soul from its depths, and rouse, as with
trumpet call, courage, energy, and enthusiasm,
when before, was only the blaokness Of despair.
mention this, of course, philOsOphic friend, as
psychological phenomenon. Very likely 1t would
do no such thing for you, because you are an en-
lightened man, aud have Outgrown the old myths
Of past centuries. But then, you have Emerson's
Essays, and Carlyles Miscellanies, and other
productions of the latter day, suited to your ad-
vAnced development.
Mr.. Haley pulled out Of his pocket sundry
newspapers and began looking over their adver-
tisements with absorbed interest He was not 9
remarkably fluent reader, and was in the habit of
reading in a sort Of recitation half aloud by way
Of calling his ears in to verify the deductions of
his eyes. Ia this tone he slowly rectcd the fol-
lowing paragraph
UEx-o,--o,1.
order Of court will be sold, on Tuesday, Februa-
ry 90, before the Court House door, in the town
Of Washington, Kentucky, the following negroes
Hagar, aged 60 John aged 80 Ben, aged 81;
Saul aged 25; Albert, aged IA. Sold for the
benefit Of the creditors and heirs Of the estate of
Jesse BlutchfOrd, Esq, SAMUEL MoRRIs,
Thomas FLINT,
EIeeiaoTso
This yer / must look at" said he to Tom, for
want Of somebody else to talk to.
We see Pm going to get up prime gang to
take down with ye, Tom it'll make it sOciAble
and pleasant like-goOd company will, ye know.
We must drive right to Washington, first and
foremost, and then III clap you into jail, while
does the business"
Tom received this agreeable intelligence quite
mSNhiy olEpiy III hAo ONu hcohb1 ~"
many Of these doomed men had wives and chill
dren, and whether they would feel as he did,
about leaving them. Ii is to be confessed, too,
that the naive, fhand information that he was to
be thrown into Jail, by no means produced an
agreeable impression on poor fellow who had
always prided himself on q strictly honest and
upright course of life. Yes, Tom, we must con-
Tess IT. was rather proud Of his honesty, poor fell
loW-not having very much else TO be proud Of
IL ne had belonged to some of the higher walks Of
society, he, perhaps, would never have been re-
duced to such straits. However, the day wore
on, and the evening saw Haley and Tom COM
fortably accommodated in Washington-the one
in tavern, and the other in Jail.
About eleven o'clock the next day, mixed
throng was gathered around the courthouse
steps-smOkng, chewing splitting, swearing and
converting, according to their respective tastes
and transmitting for the auction to commence.
The men and women to be sold, sat in group
apart, talking in low tone to each other. The
woman who had been advertised by the name OF
Hssar, was regular African in feature and
ngore She might have been sixty, but was older
than That, BY hard work and disease was partially
Diind, and somewhat crippled with rheumatism.
ny her side stood her only remaining son, Albert,
aonght-looking little fellow Of fourteen years.
Inc boy was the only survivor of large family,
VINO had been successfully sold away frora her to
aSOuthern market. The mother held on TO him
WIN both her shaking hands, and eyed with in
tense trepidstiOn every one who walked up to en-
anime him
Don't be feard, Aunt Hagsr,n said the Oldest Of
Tue men, y spoke to Mass'r Thomas bout 1t, and
ne thought he might manage to sell you in lot
both together
o.. Dey needn't call me worn out YET" said she,
H''ng her shaking hands, 81 can cook yet and
uo' and scour-pm wuth buying, II do
y@e eheap-tell EN- dat ar-you tsH emu she
'1ued' earnestly
iAiey here forced his way into the group
0u up to the old man, pulled his mouth open,
@Dl looked in, felt Of his teeth, made him stand,
11 "raishten himself bend his back, and perform
'"'Ous evolutiOns to show his muscles, and then
pa's'a on to the next, and put him through the
- u'AL Walking up last 10 the boy, he felt
us arms, Strengthened his hands, and looked at
san, myers and made him jump, TO show his
=, ne ami gWins to be sold widout me" said the
woman, with passionate earnestness; abe and
s' IN lot tOgether-I'srail strong yet, mass'r,
can 10 heaps vcrk-heaps on IL. mass'r.
on plAutAtion1n said Haley. with a con.
SmptuOus glance "liksly story y and a. n sat-
-" WIN his examination, he walked out and
'''''a' and stood with his haAds In his pocket,