Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-11-11

NoioHS2t H1tV htlo Sstoy
carrying on some sort of talk with him. Catch.
ing my eye, the latter beckoned me to come in,
with 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 deferently-yet Col. Mercer gave
me no introduction to him. It was odd | thought,
but sat down quietly. With how much aston
ishment listened to the following conversation
may be imagined / give it rs literally as my
memory viii allow for it is no fancy sketch am
writing but plain narrative of facts
SO your name is Tom, said Col Mercer.
'Yes-sir,
And you want me to buy you.
'Yes-sir. if you please.
| looked up at the speaker; could not believe
my own ears; that fne gentlemanly looking fell
low, a negro-a sIave2 took closer survey of
him. Yes, said to myself, I will not take it
back let your condition in life be what it may,
you have the look and air of gentleman. He
had dark complexion but was less dark and
swarthy than many southerner I had met his
head was finely shaped his hair, jet black, but
not woolly, clung in close short curls ronnd his
head aud forhead his eyes were large and inteli-
gent; his nose and mouth good the lips a little
thicker than is common, but not more so than in
fifty white faces have seen at the North; and his
figure was well-knit and muscular being of lit
tie more than medium hight.
How old are you, Tom2' asked the colonel.
sTwenty-one last July
What part of Virginia did you come from2'
- county near the Rappahannock I
forget the name of the county
What made your master sell you; masters
don't sell good servants.
Ole nassa died, he said, for the first time fall
ing into the negro dialect and young missus mar
ried, and her husband got into debt mighty bad,
and he sold ten of us to the spectators
Did Mr.. Ncill buy you ofhim?
This Mr. Neil knew was negro dealer
speculator, they called hlm-who lived near Col.
Mercer and had heard one of our negroes say
he had just come back from the North with four
hundred negroes that he meant to take to Ala
bama
'Yes-sr, he bought all the ten
What can you do Tom? Are you right
smart boy?'
yes, massa; can do most anything.
What have you been doing at your old mas
ter -feld-work2'
No, massa with a contemptous accent on
the word. Use always been round the house.
can take care of the dining-room, and wait on ta-
bles, and help most everywhere.
How came you to come out to my place2'
oh, massa, Mr.. Neil he tell me you wanted to
get man and he say it be a mighty fine place
out here; and he sent me over to see you.
And to sell yourself2' said the colonel, laugh
ing heartily.
Yes, massa, ifyou'd d like to buy me.
Why, now, Tom, how much do you reckon
you are WORTH with the same amused look
Dunno 'xactly, reckon about fifteen hunder
Fifteen hundred that monstous price.
Reckon, massa, Mr. Neil no think, with a
grin.
We'll, Tom, 1 do want to get me a boy-a srnart,
likely boy; but | want one to drive my horses
and reckon you cant do that
oh, yesr the face lighting up, I allus drive
young missus.
After few iuorc questions of similar charae-
ter, Col Mercer sent him away, saying, Now
Tom, go out among my folks; you may stay
day or two and wen see how we like one an
other, and turning to me after he went out he
said, i called you in, thinking you d ike to help
me buy carriage driver He said it playfully,
knowing how different from his own were my
views of the peculiar institution but he evidently
had no idea Of the way in which buying and sell
ing human being struck me the horror we feel
in view Of such a transaction no southerner seems
ever able to understands they have seen it done
all their lives till it becomes matter of-course
business affair to them, as much so as buying
piece of land, or horse or COW.
| watched Tom, as making graceful bow he
went out into the yard and toward the negro cab
ms How must he feel in view of his condition
Or had he no feeling about it He looked cheer
full and unconcerned Was then the promise of
his fine head and intelligent features all decep-
ton, and was he as reckless of the future, of
whether he should be driven on hundreds of miles
further and sold on sugar or rice plantation, or
kept where he was, as his careless air and manner
indicated or beneath that smiling exterior, did
there lie throbbing heart, weighing anxiously,
the probabilities of his lot {? could not tell, of
course, but / longed to penetrate the mystery,
and know whether stout, full-grown man, pos
sessing apparently all the faculties of man, could
have sunk so low in the scale of being as to enjoy
selling himself and to be able to joke about it p
Such questions are always coming up on slave
plantation the black men, women and children
about you are looking jolly and contented, they
loIl about indolendy, crack merry jokes, and seem
to be in full possession of luxurious state of
mind which has no fears, cares, or yexations to
disturb it and have heard bothnortherners and
southerners contend that this was proof Of the
blessed nature of the institution. To me, it was
the most mournful phase of it. God made a hu-
man soul to have aspiration for something beyond
the present and just so far it loses that char
acteristic it falls toward the level of the lower an
imals, who eat, drink and enjoy life, caring for
nothing better. Had my fne-looking, gentleman