The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-03-24
SOCIETY," Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana,

gentlrn'n see hu y srpy you BE.
Then. pointing 70 the three year old girl whe
stood with h4r chubby hand 10 her mouth, hold
ing on TO her mothers dress, aud uncertain what
10 make of the strange scene.
Little Van1y's only . child yet. make prime
gal by aud nv Better buy u, mas'r; wc'm fas
rate barrainr- aud 50 on Blt the benevolent
gentleman found where he could drive a closer
bargain aud 50 bought somebody else.
Similar scenes we're transactng all the while on
every side - parents praising the strength and
cleyerness OF their children, and showing Of every
muscle AID siOew TO the very best advantage, It
with the excusabe pride of other parents but TO
make them more desirable IN the eyes of the
buyer; and on the other hand, children excusng
aud mitigating the age and inability of parents
that they might be more marketable and fall, if
Dossible, into kind hands Not unfreque qtly these
representations if borne out by the facts secured
a purchaser he women never spoke TO the
white men unless spoken to, and then made the
conference as short possible. And not one of
them al, during the whole time they were thus
exposed to the rude questions Of vulgar men,
spoke the first unwomauy or indehcate word or
conducted herself in any regard otherwise than as
a modest woman should do; their conversation
and demeanor quite as uGexceptonable
they would have been had they been the highest
ladies in the land aud through all the insults to
which they were subjected they conducted them
selves with the most perfect dccorum and selfre
spect.
THE WAY THE CHATTELs "ToOK' THE SALE
The expression on the faces Of all who
stepped on the block was always the same.
and told of more anguish than It is in the
power Of language to express. Blighted
homes. crushed hopes and broken hearts was
the sad story to be read in all the anxious
faces. Some of them regarded the sale with
perfect indifference, never making motion
save to turn from one side to the other at the
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crowd might have a fair view of their pro.
portions. and then, when the sale was accom-
plished stepping down from the block with
out caring TO cast even look at the buyer,
who now held all their happiness in his
hands Others, again, strained their eyes
with eager glances from one buyer to anotl-
er as the bidding went on, trying with earn
est attention to follow the rapid voice of the
auctioneer. Sometimes Two persons only
would be bidding for the same chattel. all the
others having resigned the contest, and then
the poor creature on the block. conceiving
an instantaneous preference for one of the
buyers over the other, regard the rivalry
with the intcnsest interest. the expression of
his face changing with every bid, settling
into half smile OF JOY if the fayorite buyer
persevered unto the end and secured the
properly, and settling down into look of
DAPHNEY's BABY.
The family Of Primus plantation carpen-
ter consisting of Daphney, his wife, with
her voung babe. and DIDO. girl OF three
years DID, were reached in course of time
Daphnev had large shawl, which she kert
carefully wrapped about her infant and her
self This unusual proceeding attracted
much attention, aud prov1.iei good manv
remarks. such as these:
Nv hat do you keep your niger covered
up for9 Pail off her blanket"
What's the matter with the gal? Has
she got he headacheF'
What's the fault of the gal Amt she
sound! Pull off her rags and let US
her!''
.Who's going to bid on that nigger. if
YOU keep her covered ups Let US see her
face
And a loud chorus Of similar remarks,
emphasized with loud profanity, aud min
gled with sayings too indecent to be even
limited at here, went up from the crowd of
chivalrous Southern gentlemen.
At last the aucioneer obtained hearing
long enough to explain that there was no at
tempt to practice any deception in tie case
the parties were not to be wron5ed in any
wav-he had no desire to palm off on them
an inferior article, but the truth Of the mat:
ter was that Daphney had been confined only
fifteen DAYS ago, and he thought on that ac-
count was entitled TO the slight indulgence
of blanket te keep from herself and child
the chill air and driving rain.
THE SALE OF JEFFREY AND DoRCAs.
Among the chattels to be disposed . was
one named Jeffrey, stout Young man of
twenty three. VIII" had so far forgotten the
Dred Scott decision, his duty 10 the Consti-
tuition, and his admiration of the star span
eled banner which "waves over the land of
the free especially and eternally, as 10 fall
in love- ridiculous fancy, with a plump
healthy young girl named Dorcas. As they
were not married they might be sold sepa-
rately, and thus be bought by different mas
ters So Jeffrey, after he had been sold, Sc.
his wits (Which had belonged to P. Butler
Esq, of Philadelphia 10 work, mot for p.
Butler Esq, but feloniously and uneonsti,u-
tionally, and 10 contraveution Of the Cinein-
natl Platform) for himself. in order to secure
the purchase Of Dorcas by his own master
Thus he did it:
The man seems touched by Jearey's re-
marks, and bids him fetch out his gal, and
lets see what she looks like
Jeffrey goes into the long room and pres
entity returns with Dorcas. looking very sad
and self-possessed. without particle OF en-
barrassment at the trying position in which
she is placed. She makes the accustomed
courtesy. and stands meekly with her hands
clasped across her bosom, awaiting the re-
suit. The buyer regards .r with critical
eye, and growls IN a low voice that the gal
mas good pints.' Then he goes or to a
more minute and careful exam nation of her
working abilities. He turns her round
makes her stoop. aud walk; aud then he takes
Of her tuyban to look at her head that no
vouad or disease be concealed by the gay
handkerchief; he looks az ter teeth and feels
her arms aa3 a. last ANNOUNCES himself
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