The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-10
Saturday Morning, Dec. 10, 1854.
Selling Himself.


nnWers, such bouquet as only Southern
grounds could furnish, for it contained the
cape jessamine, that queen of flowers; the
Grape myrtle, with its bewildering flush OF
crimson bloom, to say nothing OF 4 profusion
Of tea roses, such as Northern greenhouses
would be proud of rearing, or rather, never
could rear to such perfection.
was sauntering along one of the paths
wishing could transfer that magnificent bou-
quet to some Of my Northern friends, when
saw gentleman coming up the central walk.
"Yes, a gentleman" said TO myself, taking a
second look at him while he was still in the
distance, 'his whole air shows that" i could
not discern his features, OF course, and turn
ing off into another walk to avoid being seen
by him, noticed, with some surprise, that,
instead OF ascending the flight OF steps In
front of the house, he turned corner, follow
ing path which led to the piazza at the rear.
Probably some one who is so familiar with
the family arrangements that he knows he
shall find Col. Mercer on the back piazza at
this hour. l thought, and gave no further
consideration to him.
When my bouquet was completed, went
in, going through the wide hall to get vase
and some water OF Celia, the house servant.
who was always lettering in the hall, If not
asleep In the back piazza, no unusual event.
As passed lightly through the passage, l
saw the stranger standing In the Colonel's Ii.
brary, in front of the Colonel, who was loung-
ing back in his easy chair, carrying on some
sort OF a talk with him. Catching my eve,
the latter beckoned me to come In, with q
smile on his face, which led me to fancy the
seeming stranger might turn into an old ac-
quaintance. No; / had never before seen that
rather handsome, dark .compexioned, black
eyed man, who bowed gracefully to me as
entered gracefully and deferentially-yet
Col. Mercer gave me no Introduction to him.
It was odd, / thought, but sat down quietly.
With how much astonishment listened TO
the following conversation may be imagined.
l give it as literally as my memory will al
low; for 1t Is no fancy sketch I am writing,
but aplain narrative of facts. i E
$50 your name is Tom," said Colonel Mer-
Ger. ss4
"Yes-sir." .4sa f'-'Nos At
"And you want me to buy you." w
"Yes-sir, II you please. - = IA ~
looked up at the speaker; could not be-
lieve my own ears; that hne, gentlemanly-
looking fellow, negro-a slave? I took a
closer. survey OF him. 'Yes," said to N.Y.
sell, II viii not take it back 4 let your condi-
tion in life be what it may, you have the look
and air of gentleman" He had dark com
plexion, but was less dark and swarthy than
many Southerner had met; his head was
finely shaped; his hair, jet black, but not
woody, clung in close, short curlss round his
intelligent; his nose and mouth good, the lips
a little thicker than is common, but not more
SO than in HftY white faces have seen at the
North and his figure was well-knit and mus
cuIar- being of little more than the medium
height. 80 q =
'iAow old are you, Toma" asked the Col
onel. II ~
"rwenty-one, last July"
What part Of Virginia did you come
&C. county, near the Rappahannock." /
forget the name of the county. nn EE.fsl
~ "What made your master sell your masters
don't sell good servants. A 9sot5 81
"Ole massa died, he said, for the first time
falling into the negro dialect, land young
missus married, and her husband got into
debt mighty bad, and he sold ten of us to the
speculators."
Ibid Mr.. Neill buy you of himPn a. III
This Mr.. Neill knew was negro dealer
speculator, they called him-who lived near
Col. Mercer, and had heard one of our ne
groes say he had just come back from the
North with four hundred negroes that he
meant to take to Alabama.
"Yes, sir, he bought all the ter" 'l'} fs
'Whst can you do, Tom? Are you right
smart boyY aW
"Yes, massa; can do most anything."b
''What have you been dong at your old
masters ?--feld work ?n 4saW
mo, Nasal" with contemptuous accent
on the word. "I'se always been round The
house. can take care of the dining-room,
and wait on tables, and help most every
where?' ais md88YA .aidsngmCsq =.
"How came you to come out to my place 2"
"Oh, massa, Mr. Neifi, he tell me you want
ed to get man; and he say it be mighty
fine place out here; and he sent me over to
see you.' on ~ sale TlAGi3b
''And to sell yourself2" said the Colonel
laughing heartily.
"Yes, massa, ii you'd like to buy me.o
'tWhy, now, Tom, how much do you reckon
you are worth?' with the same amused look.
dunno 'xactly; reckon about fifteen hun
.'Fifteen hundreds that's monstrous
price,"
Reckon, massa, Mr.. Neil no think so,'
with grin.
'.Well, Tom, l do want TO get boys
smart, likely boy; but / want one to drive
nv horses: and / reckon you can't do that
"Oh, yes !" the face lighting up, 81 allus
drive young missis."
After few more questions OF similar
character, Col. Mercer sent him away, saying
"NoW, Fom, go among my folks; you may
stay day or two, and we'll see how we like
one another and turning to me after he wen
out ne SAID \ called you in, thinking you'c
ike to neip me buy carriage driver"
he SAID IL piaytully, knowing how different
from his own were nay views IF the peculial
institution; but he evidentIv had M idea Of
the way in which buying and selling human
being sufuck me; the horror we feel IN view
of such transaction no Southerner seams to
understand; they have seen It done ali the;,
lives till it has become matter-o courra hns 4.
ness affair to them, as much as buying 4 niece
of land, or horse or cow.
watched Tom as, after making gracefu
bow, he went out into the yard and towart
the negro cabins. How must he feel 10 viev
of his condition? Or had he no feeling abou
it? He looked cheerful and unconcerned.-
Was then the promise of bis fine head and I
telligent features all deception, and was b
as reckless OF the future, of whether he shoul
be driven on hundreds of miles farther, an
sold on q sugar or rice plantation, or keI
where he was, as his careless air and manne
Indicated: or beneath that smiling exterio
did there lie a throbbing heart, weighing anx
iously the probabilities Of his lotp / coul
not tell, of course, but longed to penetrat
the mystery, and know whether stout, ful
grown man, possessing apparently all the fac
ulties Of man, could have sunk SO low In tn
scale Of being as to enjoy selling himself an
to be able to joke about it Such question
are always coming up on slave plantation
the black men, women and children about 20
-. es--- - a-Ataa I'd -ss1lsu & ia4fu