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

What think Of EN- said man who had
been following Haley's examination, as if to make
up his own mind from IT,
Wal" said Haley, splitting 81 shall put in,
| think, for the youngerly ones and the boyD
"They want 10 sell the boy and the old woman
together" said the man.
"Find it a tight pull-Why, she's an old rack
% bones-not worth her saltD
You wouldn't, then said the man.
Amy body'd be fool 'twould she's halfblind,
crooked with rheumatis, and foolish TO boot"
Some buys up these yer old critturs, and SEES
there's sight more wear in EN- than body'd
think, said the man, rehectively.
No 20 tsle,D said Haley" wouldn't take her
for present-fact-Pve seen, now"
Wal, tits kinder pity, now, not to buy her
with her son-her heart seems so sot on him
spose they fling her in cheap
Them that's got money to spend that ar way,
its all well enough shall bid of on that ar boy
for plantation hand-Wonldn't be bothered with
her no way-not if they'd give her TO me" said
Haley.
"She'n take on desp'tD said the man.
"Naplly, she will" said the trader, coolly.
The conversation was here interrupted by q
busy hum ia tine audience, aud the Auetioneer,
short, busting, important fellow, elbowed his
way into the crowd. The old woman drew in
her breath, and caught instinctively at her son.
"Keep close to yer nanny, Albert-clOse-
dey1 put US up togedder," she said.
"oh, nanny, Pm feard they won't" said the
boy
aDey must, child can't live no ways, If they
don't" said the old creature vehemently.
The stentorisn tones of the auctioneer, calling
out TO clear the way, now announced that the sale
oho 70 a nj Nuao oil ah
and the bidding began. The different men on
the list were soon knocked off at prices which
showed pretty brisk demand in the market /;
two of them fell to Haley.
"COme, now, young un, " said the auctioneer,
giving t.s 10y n eosoya ~..-yss.-, LsT1eTi be up
and show your springs now.D
@PussG t=SeR sesstSe- t"-~Adsr-VdS nleass,
mass'r," said the old Woman, noloing fast TO nvr
boy.
"Be Off said the man, gruffy, pushing her
hands away, "you come last now darkey, spring
and with the word, he pushed the boy toward the
block, while deep, heavy grOan rose behind him.
He paused and looked back but there was no
time to stay and dashing the tears from his large
bright eyes, he was up in moment
His fine figure, alert limbs, and bright face,
raised an instant competition, and half dozen
bids simultaneously met the ear of the auctioneer
Anxious, balf-frightened, he looked from side to
side, as he heard the clatter Of contending bids,
now here now there till the hammer fell. Haley
had got him. He was pushed from the block TO-
ward his new master, but stopped one moment
and looked back, when his poor old mother,
trembling in every limb, held out her shaking
hands toward him.
aBuy me too, massr, for de dear Lords sake
buy mel shall die IL you don't.
"You'll die if | do, that's the kink Of it" said
Haley-"noln And he turned on his heel.
The bidding for the poor old creature was sum-
mary. The man who had addressed Haley, ana
who seemed not destitute Of compassion, bought
her for a trihe, and the spectators began to dis
perse
The poor victims of the sale, who had been
brought up in one place together for years
gathered round the desparing old mother, whose
agony was pitiful to see
Couldn't dey leave me one Massr alters said
| should have one--he did, !" she repeated over
and over, in hesrt-breken tones
Trust in the Lord Aunt Hagar,n said the
Oldest Of the men, sorrowfully.
"What good will 1t do?" said she, sobbing
passionately
Mother mother-don't! don't!n said the
boy-"they say you's got good master"
81 don't care, don't care Oh, Albert-oh, my
boy, yous my last baby-Lord, how ken ~
Come, take her off, can't some Of ye," said
Haley, dryly-" don't do no good for her to 60 on
that ar wsyD
The old men Of the company, partly by per-
suasion and partly by force loosed the poor crea-
tures last desparing hold, and they led her off
to her new masters wagon, strove TO comfort her.
"Nowl0 said Haley, pushing his three pur-
chases together, and producing bundle Of hand
cuffs, which he proceeded to put on their wrists,
and fastening each hsndcuf to q long chain, he
drove them before him to the Jail
few days saw Haley with his possessions,
safely deposited on one Of the Ohio boats. 1t was
the commencement of his gang, TO be augmented
as the boat moved on, by various other merchan-
disc Of the same kind, which he, or his agents
had stored for him in various points along shore.
The La Belle Riyiere, as brave and beautiful
boat as ever walked the waters Of her namesake
river, was floating gsily down the stream, under
brilliant sky--the stripes and stars Of free
America waving and futtering over head-the
guards crowded with well-dressed ladies and gen.
tlemen walking and enjoying the delightful day
All was full Of life-buoyant and rejoicing-all
but Haley's gang, who were stored with other
freight on the lower deck, and who, somehow, did
not seem to appreciate their various privileges,
as they sat in knot, talking to each other in low
tones
Boys" said Haley, coming up briskly, 81
now, no sulks, ye see-keep stiff upper-lip, boys
do well by me, and I'll do well by you"
The boys addressed, responded the invariable
yes msssr for ages the wstch-word Of poor
Africa but it's to be owned they did not look par
ticularly cheerful-they had their various little
prejudices in favor of wives mothers, sisters, and
children, seen for the last time and though "they
that wasted them, required Of them mirth,D it
was not instantly forthcoming.
"Pve got wife, spoke out the article emu
merated as John, aged thirty" and he laid his
chained hand on Toms knee, "and she don't
know word about this, poor girlo
"Where does she live 7 y said Tom.
ain tavern piece down here" said John g
wish now, could see her once more in this world"
be added
Poor John 1t mas rather natural, now and
the tears that fell, as he spoke, came ss naturally
as IL he had been white man. Tom drew long
breath from sore heart, and tried in his poor
way, TO comfort him.
And over head, in the cabin sat fathers and
mothers, husbands and wives, and merry, dancing
children moved TO and fro among them, like 30
many little butterflies, and everything was going
on quite easy and comfortable.
"Oh, mamma" said boy, who had just come
up from below, "theres negro trader on board,
and he's brought four or FIVE slaves down there"
Poor creatures,n said the mother, In tone
between grief and Indignation.
What's that y said another lady.
Some poor slaves below said the mother.
"And they've got chains on said the boy.
What shame to our country that such sights
are TO be seen" said another lady.
"Oh, there's a great deal to be said on both
sides Of the subject, said geuteel woman who
sat at her state-room door sewing while her little
girl and boy were playing round her. :" I've been
South, and must say ! think the negroes are
better off than they would be to be free"
Ia some respects, some Of them are well of, ]
grant, said the lady TO whose remark she had
answered." the most dreadful part Of slavery, TO
my mind, is its outrages on the feelings and az.
fections-the separating Of families, for example"
That is bad thing, certainly said the other
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