Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-03-25

blanket, to keep from herself aud child the chill
air and the driving rain.
win your lady readers look at the circunl-
stances of this case. The day was the second
of March. Daphney's baby was born into the
world on St. Valentines happy day, the l4th
of February. Since her confinement, Daphney
had travelled from the plantation to Savannah,
where she had been kept in shed for six days.
On the sixth or seventh day after her sickness,
she had left her bed, taken q railroad journey
across the country to the shambles, was there
exposed for six days 10 the quesionings and in
suits of the negro spectators, and then on the
fifteenth day after her confinement was put up
on the block with her husband and her other
child, and with her newborn babe in her arms,
was sold TO the highest bidder.
1t was very consideraie 10 Daphney TO be
sick before the sale, for her wailing babe was
worth to Mr.. Butler all of hundred dollars,
The family sold for 1926 apiece, or $2,506 for
the four.
BOB AND MARY.
This was couple not quite a year married
and were down in the catalogue as ''prime. -
They had no children yet; Mary with a repre-
hensible lack of that tender interest II MIR.
Buffers affairs that had been exhibited in SO
eminent degree by Daphney, had disappoint-
ed that worthy mans expectations, and the ba-
as yet was not But Bob and Mary sold for
81 l,135 apiece, for all that.
In another instance, Margaret, the wife of
Doctor George, who was confined on the 10th
of February, though the name of herself aud
family were inserted in the catalogue, did not
come to the sale, and, consequently, they were
not disposed of at all. AS Margaret's baby
was fully four days old at tue time she was re-
quircd to start on her journey to Savannah,
we can only look at her refusal to 60 as most
eulpable instance Of perversity Margaret should
be whipped and branded, and otherwise kindly
admopished Of her great sin in thus disappoint-
ing the reasonable expectations of so kind
master. But Mr. Bltler bore with her 10 tru-
ly Christian spirit, and uttered no reproaeh--
10 public, at least. 1t was the more unkind cf
Margaret, too, because there were six in the
family who would have brought, probably ,S4,-
600, and all we're detained from the sale by the
contumacy of misguided Margaret.
While Oh the subject Of babies, it may be
mentioned that Amity, chattel No. SIG, wife
of Prince, chattel No. 315, had testified her
earnest desire to contribute all in her power to
worldly wealth Of her master by bringing into
the world at Que time chattels Nos. 3l7 and
3 s being fine pair of twin boys, just year
old. Ii is not evidence that Amity received
from her master any testimonial Of his appre-
ciatiug her good bensvior on this occasion, but
it is certain that she brought great price, the
four, Prince, Amity and the twins selling tor
$3.50 apiece, being total Of S2,68O.
Many other babies, of all ages Of babyhood
were sold, but there was nothing particularly
interesting about them. There we're some
thirty babies in the lot; they arc esteemed
worth to ths g77Stef hundred dollars the day
they are born, aud 20 increase in value at tue
rate os hundred dollars year till they are
sixteen or seventeen years old, at which age
they bring the best prices.
THE LOVE STORY OF JEFFREY AND DoRcAs.
Jeffrey, caattel No. $40, marked as "prime
cotton hand," aged twenty three years was
put up. Jeffrey being likely lad, the COM
petition was high. The first bid was 81 100,
and be was finally sold for $3.50. jeffrey
was sold alone he bad no incumbrance in the
shape of an aged father or mother, who must
necessarily be sold with him nor had he any
children, for Jeffrey was not married. Bot
Jeffrey, chattel No. 3l9, being human in his
affections, had dared 10 cherish love for Dor
cas-, chattel 278 and Dorcas, not having the
fear of her master before her eyes, had given
her heart to Jeffrey. Whether what followed
was a just retrbutiou on Jeffrey and Dorcas,
for daring to take such liberties with their
masters property as to exchange hearts, or
whether it only goes to prove that with black
as with white the saying holds, that "the
course of truo love never did run SMOOTH
cannot now be told Certain il is that these TWO
lovers were not TO realize the comsummation Of
their hopes ic happy wedlock. Jeffrey and
Dorcas had told their loves. had exchanged
their simple vows, aud were betrothed, each to
the other as dear, and each by the other as
fondly loved, as though their skins had been Of
fairer color And who shall say that in the
sight of Heaven aud all holy angels, these two
humble hearts we're net as closely Welded as
any two of the prouder race that call them
slaves!
Be that as it may jeffrey was sold. He
finds out his new master and, hat in hand, the
big tears standing 10 his eyes, and bis voice
with emotion, he stands before that
master and tells his simple story, praying that
his betrothed may be bought with him. Though
his voice tIembles, there is no embarrassment
in his manner; his fears have killed all the
bashfulness that would naturally attend such
a recital TO a stranger, and before unsympa-
thizing witnesses; be feels that he is pleading
for the happiness of her he loves, as we'll as
for his owB, and his tale is told in a frank and
manly way.
loves DoTcas, young mas'r, loves her we'll
an true; she says she loves me, and know
she does de good Lord knows love her bet
.er than loves any one in de wide world
never can love another WOMAN half so we'll
Please buy Dors2s, mas'r. We're be good
sarvants to you as long as VIC i:ye. We're be
married right soon, young mas'r, and de chilun
will be healthy and strong. mas'r, and dey'll
be good sazgants, too. Please buy porcas,
young mas'r. We logas each other a heap
do, really, true, Mas'r.
Jeffrey then remembers that 10 loves and