The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-11

Come up and examine them. Show your
arm, Tom There's muscle for YOU gen
tlemcn! Show your neck, Betsy. There's
breast for you; good for round dozen
before she's done child bearing Well,
gentlemen, shall | say twenty-five hun
bred Twenty hundred it is? Thank
you, sir Who says twenty-six hun
dred ?"
While the auctloneer was crying his
wares, the purchaser meanwhile examin.
ing their arms and legs, and asking them
questions, | observed that it was the con-
slant aim OF Tom and Betsy to depreciate
themselves, either as strong and healthy,
or as valuable servants in any sense. Not
only were the replies made to the inquir-
les OF purchasers most unsatisfactory, but
to each recommendation of the auctioneer
there was constant running negation on
the part OF the parties sold. do not
know how better to illustrate what L mean
than by the following dialogue:
Auctloneer. Here's fine fellow gen
tlemen."
Tom. "Aint fine Teller, gemmen"
Auctiopeer "Hold your tongue, Tom
You are fine fellow-a strong, handy
Niger"
Tom. Amt strong, handy niger"
Purchaser. whats the matter with
you, Tom?"
Tom. SCOT stiff arm. Me break it
when little cuffee Can't do no more'n
harf days work"
The same running contradiction took
place on Betsy's part.
Auctioneer. Here's nice wench gen
tlemen'
Betsy "Ain't nice wench, gemmen."
Auctioneer. Nonsense, Betsy. Yes,
you are. There wasn't smarter woman
on Mr.. Papineau's plantation"
Betsy. Oats a lie Mere'n twenty
huff sight smarter than ole Betsy. Mas
sa Papno, he know'd better Amt
smart woman no how"
Purchaser. "Why, what the matters
with you, mammy?"
Betsy "Got swellin' in knee, Look
dere," raising her dress above pair Of
sturdy limbs to confirm her statement.
can got roomatiz in back very bad rite
here" letting her dress fall and grasping
with her hands each side of the small of
her back "Ain't smart woman to
work De good Lord knows dat"
Surprising this systematic attempt to
depreciate their value must arise from
some exceptional reason on the part of
Tom and Betsy, | rather enjoyed it, es-
pecially as they usually got the best of
the argument and the sympathy of the
spectators; but when | discovered that
each man and woman afterward put Oh
the block did precisely the same thing and.
and that every statement of the auctioneer
was met by a flat contradiction, just as
broad as it was long, confess that was
puzzled. Neither girl nor boy, man nor
woman, husband nor wife, was willing to
be sold at high price as frst-rate field
hand, mechanic, or house servant Turn
ing to gentleman standing near me, who
had made several purchases, asked the
reason.
"Why," said "is there this persistent
purpose on the part Of old and young,
each to under value his or her personal
value? 1t is contrary to that inordinatc
yanityt that is so largean element in the ne
gro character, and seems to answer no
purpose but to damage the sale?"
"That is very true" was the reply, "and
nothing makes the negro vince sooner
than a jibe of being valueless Massa, he
ask more'n fifteen hunder' dollars for dis
niger, or you worse nor poor trash, and
massa he glad to sell you for tree hunder'
dollars and similar taunts and vaunts are
heard constantly on every plantation. But
IN the case OF an actnal sale, another and
stronger element than vanity comes into
play, which is love Of ease IF sold at
high price, the negro knows he must
make himself worth that price to his
master by hard labor; if, on the contrary,
at low price, he can afford to be idle,
and his master will not complain"
While the gentleman was speaking, an
old negro, nearly bent double, tremulous,
decrepld, palsied, whose hair and beard
were white, and who seemed scarcely
able to move or even to stand, and was
helped on to the platform A murmur of
dlsapprobation ran thorough the crowd Of
buyers
Its shame to sell that old man p
Take him off and let him CO." were
heard from another when the auctioneer
replied.
Il knowit, gents, but what can | do +? The
old fellow belongsto the estate; his name
is on the schedule before me, and reluct-
ant as | am to sell a man who has one foot
IN the grave, have only my duty to do
as a sworn officer of State"
Then in subdued voice, he added,
well, gentlemen, you see the old fellow
He's past his day. It's mercy to make
the rest Of his life easy. Who'll bid j?
Anything, gentlemen, anything Do l
: hear five dollar"
There was moments hesitation, no
one feeling disposed to resume the re-
sponsibility, when the gentleman I had
J addressed answered, Eyes, I'll give you
five dollars
Give dollars once, five dollars twice,
i've dollars, going, going, gone! Peter
} goes to Mr. Hampton for five dollars"