The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-15
For the National BRA.
UNCLE TOMS CABIN:
OR,
LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY
BY MRS. X. B. sTowI
CHAPTER xxx.

III II ~ wi ONO II Il LIZ w L. I.
BY MRS. ". B. STOWE.
CHAPTER XXX
slave warehouse Perhaps some of my
readers conjure uTahorrible visions of such a
place They fancy some foul, obscure den,
- .eec-----11Ss T-7r-~tg- 1cf~~r>.s .S~s~s r1s
hamen adempnrpr 2b,,V 49, ~ ~ ~,
in these days men have learned the art of sim
ming expertly and genteelly, 80 as not to shock
the eyes and senses of respectable society HUI
man property is high in the market, and is
therefore well fed, well cleaned, tended and
looked after, that it may come to sale sleek and
strong and shining A slave warehouse in
New Orleans is q house externally not much
unlike many others, kept with neatness; and
where every day you may see arranged, under a
sort of shed along the outside, rows of men and
women, who stand there as a sign Of the prop
erty sold within.
Then you shall be courteously entreated to
call and examine, and shall fh4 an abundance
of husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, fathers,
mothers, and young children, to be "sold sepa-
rately or in lots to suit the convenience Of the
purchaser; and that soul immortal once
bought with blood and anguish by the Son of
God, when the earth shook, and the rocks rent,
and the graves were opened, can be sold, leased,
mortgaged, exchanged for groceries or dry
goods to suit the phases of trade or the fancy
of the purchaser.
IL was a day or two after the conversation
between Marie and Miss Ophelia that Tom,
| Adolph, and about half a dozen others of the
| St Clare estate, were turned over to the loving
kindness of Mr.. Skeggs, the keeper of depot
on - street, to await the auction next day,
Tom had with him quite szable trunk full
of clothing, as had most others of them. They
were ushered for the night into long room
where many other men, OF all ages, sizes, and
shades Of complexion, were assembled, and
from which roars Of laughter and unthinking
merriment were proceeding.
aAh, ha. that's right. Colt boys-go it ,
said Mr.. Skeggs, the keeper. "My people ar.
always 40 merry Sambo, | see!" he said
speaking approvingly to burly negro who wa
performing tricks Of low buffoonry which occa
stoned the shouts which Tom had heard
As might be imagined, Tom was in no hume
to join these proceedings and therefore settin,
his trunk as far as possible from the nois,,
group he sat down on it and leaned his fac
against the wall.
The dealers in the human article make scru
pulous and systematic efforts to promote noisy
mirth among them, as a means of drowning
reflection and rendering them insensible te
their condition. The whole object of the
training to which the negro is put from the
time he is sold in the Northern market, till
he arrives South, is systematically directed to-
wards making him callous unthinking, and
brutal The slave-dealer collects his gang in
Virginia or Kentucky, and drives them to some
convenient healthy place-often q watering
place--to be fattened Here they are fed full
daily, and because some incline to pine, 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 homo are too strong for him to be gay-is
marked as sullen and dangerous and subjected
to all the evils which the i'll will of an utterly
irresponsible and hardened man can infct upon
him. Briskness, alertness, and cheerfulness Of
appearance, especially before observers, are
constantly enforced upon them, both by the
hope of thereby getting good MASTER and the
fear of all that the driver may bring upon
them if they prove unsaleable.
"What dat ar niger doin here : said SAM
BIO, coming up to Tom, after Mr., Skeggs had
left the room. Sambo was full black, Of
great size, very lively, yoIubIe and full of trick
and grimace.
What you doin hcre!" said Sambo, coming
up to Tom, and poking him facetiousy in the
6de. Meditatin, eh?"
~ am to be sold at the auction tomorrow
said Tom, quietly.
Sold at auction--haw haw boys, amt
this yer fuss wish't was gwine that ar
way--tell We, wouldn't make EN- laugh? But
how is it-dis yer whole lot gwine to:mor-
row." said Sambo, laying his hand freely on
Adolphs shoulder.
Please to let me alone" said Adolph, fierce
ly, Strengthening himself up with extreme dis
gust.
"Law, now, boys, dis yer's one o yer white
niggers-kind O. cream color, ye know, scent
ed!O said he, coming up to Adolph and snnffng
"Oh, Lor, he'd do for tobaccer shop; they
could keep him to scent snuff! Lor, he'd keep
a whole shop agwine-he would!'
al say, keep of, can't you'll" said Adolph,
enraged
"Lor, now, how touchy we is-we white
niggers! Look at us, now and Sambo gave
a Iudicrous imitation Of Adolph's manner;
here's de airs and graces Yves been in
good family, specs
@Yesn said Adolph al had master that
could have bought you all for old truck !"
Laws, now, only think, y said Sambo, the
gentlemens that we is ~
81 belonged to the st. Clare family" said
Adolph, proudly.
9Lor, you did, Be hanged il they ar'n't
lucky TO get shet Of ye Spects they's gwine 10
trade We of with lot o cracked teapots and
sch like!n said Sambo, with provoking grin.
Adolph, enraged at this tsunt flew furiously
at his adversary, swearing and striking on
every side Of him. The rest laughed and
n Al l.