Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-03-26
sLAvE-PENS OF NEW ORLEANS.

81 ne Editor IF The National Anti. Slavery Stan.
dard:
Walk in, walk in, sir this way, sir wieh to
buy my negroes to-day, sir p said a hard red.
faced youth Of about 81. as We turned our heads
toward a door, evee which hung q sign, in black
letters;
"SrosoEs FOR SALE, pr LOTS OR sINcLr, TO SUIT PuR'
cuAsERs."
OF course we walked in that was what we came
there for-to see with our own eyes a slave pen in
New Orleans. But this was not a pen-it was a
good house. We entered a hall, and there, on u
settee or sofa, sat eight or ten women in calico
dresses, white collars and white aprons. They
half rose as We entered, but, finding we were max.
log for the inner door under the direction Of our
attendant, they dropped back into their places and
assumed their former composed air. Now we were
ushered into what had once been double parlors in
. comfortable house. Here were some fifty of the
dark browed children of oppression, who had been
assembled and drilled for the market. They were
mostly men and women of the better class, such
as are in demand for the house and the shop-com'
for,ably and clearly, some Of them well dressed
The girls, like the women in the hall, oil had white
opiou' anu oi'Hhb iOOhiHS CdIlCO u uelulHe UTchbeS
and good shoes aid stockings, and most of them
had rings in their ears-some beads around their
necks and rings on their fingers.
There we're a le c~hildren-little boys and girls
Of ten or twelve. All were ranged in rows around
the walls, or standing, like classes of school,boys,
In the middle Of she room, for inspection. From
the appearance ! judgd them to lie o 'choiee lot"
wish to buy q hand, sir ?" asked the owner,
addressing my brother, while one of the girls
sprung up and handed ne a chair.
Have you a good carpenter in your lot I" was
the answer.
We have, sir, one of the fret class. George,
step up here"
George came forward and made q low bow to the
supposed purchaser, and the following colloquy
lensued
'How old are you, Georgei"
"Twenty.six sir"
where were you born and raises"
"In Virginia, sir"
"Six years, sir"
care you healthy and strong?
81 believe so, sir"
"What do you ask for him ?" said the question.
or, turning to the seller,
THAT hand is worth twenty.six hundred. any
mans money, sir one of the best bargains in the
city he is a frst.rate workman-can't be beat"
But you are high" answered my brother, at
the same time letting a sigh escape him, as if he
were oppressed Tor air.
"No, sir, no, sir hands are very dear this
spring. Why, sir, field hands are worth eighteen
hundred and two thousand, and this is q choice
bargain, sir | assure you, sir. you can't do bet.
ter"
All this time George stood face to face with those
vino seemed to be chafering for his soul and body,
with dropping hands and an expression CHANGING
from his eye, as il he read in the voice and tone of
the questioner a something that Knocked his hope.
Twill you take him, sir Z"
II think you are too high, ! will look further"
"Oh, of course, sir; but you can't find a better
piece Of flesh in the city"
We turned to 60. In a corner sat q young girl,
straight. slender and fragile, with skin quite as
white as some of the tanned compilations of the
middle Statesmen that tawny white that so often
MARKS the mixed races, bot q clear brunette, with
the rich blood flashing through the transparent
skin and making her cheeks glow. Her hair was
brown and soft, and curled at the ends. 1t was
short, after the present schoolgirl style. parted OF
= top of her head, and had not the burnt appear
, ance like the hair of an African. Her eyes were
neither black nor blue, nor yet what we call hazel
they were soft, dreamy and expressive.
q as that light girl for sale ?" l inquired.
"Which one, madam? The ,chite one? Yes
madam. Julia, some up hero. Speak to the lady
Julia essayed to speak. but lailed-only a slighr
"hem" was heard. l Struggled to choke down tn,
wrath Of spirit that was rising within me. Julia
what can you do :"
"Wait on table. sweep, clean, dust. take care o.
parlors and children, and sew some"
"Can you do house'work. wash and iron 7"
"Nsver did. nam specks l can learn I'm
young yit. only fourteen"
'Oh yes, madam. she can learn-she's from q
good family, madam-been well trained-excellen
habits, n~s'm-moral. nam. Many a gentleman
would give more than the price I'm asking" he
added in q Kissing whisper. 7 felt as though a ser.
pent had stung me. But 7 would rather sell her
TO some one that will be kind and a mother ike to
her"
"whss do you ask ?" I said.
"0niy fifteen hundred; she's cheap. You won't
get another such a piece Of property in the city
. for that price"
''Where were you raised 2"
I'm the Red River country"
"Wiil you take The girl, nam Z"
mo; good by, julia"
walked out-It thought I should choks-that
ths breath would leave my body ere ] could find