The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-08
From the Atlantic Monthly.
Loo Loo.
= rrw SCENES rKoMA rRuE HISTORY.


Having recovered somewhat from the stun
ming effects of the blow that mad fallen on her
she began TO take more notice IT her COM
paEions. gang OF slaves, just sold, was in
keeping there, till it suited the traders con-
venince to take them to New Orleans; aud the
parting scenes she witnessed that day made
an impression she never forgot. Scan i, be,'
she said to herself, sthat such ,hngs have
been going on around me all these years, and
Iso unconscious of them? What should /
now be, it Alfred tad not taken compassion
on me, and prevented my being sent to the
New Orleans market, before was ten wears
old3" She thought with a shudder OF the
auction-scene the day before, and began to be
afraid that her friends could not save her
from that vile mans power.
She was aroused from her reyerie by the
entrance Of a white gentleman, whom she had
never seen before. He came to inspect the
traders gang of slaves, to see if any one
among them would suit bin for a house-se
want; and before long, he agreed to purchase
brght-looking mulatto lad. He stopped be-
fore Loo Loo, and said, ''Are you good
seampstress?n
'.She's not for sale," answered the jaier.-
"She belongs to Mr.. Grossinan, who put
her here for obedience.n The man smiled, as
he spoke. aud Loo Loo blushed crimson.
"Ho, ho,n rejoined the stranger. ..Pm sor-
ry for that. should like to buy her, il I
could"
He sauntered round the room, and took
from his pockets oranges and candy, which
be distributed among the black picaninnies
tunbling over each other Oh the dirty foor.-
Coming round again to the place where she sat
he put ar orange on her lap, and said, in low
tones, "When they are not looking at you, re-
move the peel;" and, touching his finger 10 his
lip, signi6cantly, he turned away to talk with
the jailer.
As soon as he was gone, she asked permis-
sion to 60. for : few minutes, to the room she
had occupied during the night. There she
examined the orange, and found that half Of
the skin had been removed unbroken,
. thin paper inserted, and the peel replaced.
On the scrap Of paper was written: ..When
your master comes, appear to be submissive,
and 60 with him. Plead WEAKNESS, and
gain time. You will be rescued. Destroy
this, and don't seem more cheerful than you
have been." Under this was written, in Mad
sms Labasse's hand, "Soysz tranquille, ma
ehere."
Unaccustomed to act part, she found it
difhcult to appear 90 sad as she had been be-
Gore the reception Of the note. But she did
ner best and the jailsr observed 20 change.
Late in the afternoon, Mr.. Grossman made
hts Appearance. swell, my beauty" said he,
.'are you tired Of the calaboose? Don,t YOU
think you should like my house rather bet
tsr?''
She yawned listless, and, without looking
up. answered. ~ am very tired Of stayisg
horo.w 49, e
- thought SOP rejoined her master, with :
sAuekling laugh. ssIreckoned should bring
yoa to Terms. So you've made up your mind
not to be crpsl to . poor follow so desperatel
"a love with you,-he you?n
. cns made no aasWer, and he continued:
~xea'fs ready 70 g hsns with ne,-ars
yss7s Z & 1s
aYss, sisys ~ replied, family.