Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-04-18
Before The w ar.

Il shall never forget scene 1 Witnessed
| at a slave auction in Missouri Ia 1853, said
| a wealthy contractor Of Brooklyn to New
| York EreAiag San reporter The build
| ing business was dull i'll the east i'll those
days, and with young chum 1 started for
the southwest We finally drove stakes
on farm near Liberty No, where We
found employment as stone masons for the
season. our employer was named Spratt,
aud very decent fellow he was, too. lie
raised hemp and tobacco, and owned forty
slaves. lie treated the darkies well, but /
fear he was an exception to the rule.
"The second Sunday was with Spratt
while he and his wife were at meeting, a
beautiful girl Of seventeen, in neat
calico gown, came to the door aud said our
next neighbor had sent her for hemp
break respectfully declined to lend 1t
in Mr. Spratts absence, and she called
again upon his return. He said certainly
and sent me to the barn with the girl to
ret the break was rather puzzled at
such a charming young person appearing
ON such an errand. | thought ] would
play the gallant and shouliered the break,
which was a heavy instrument, she walk
ing by my side When | reached the front
of the house / was loudly hailed from the
window.
when | arrived at the door Nj. Spratt
in a kindly but firm tone said: John,
never do such thing again around here.
Let the girl carry the break. You would
be a marked man. That girl is a slave!
well, sir, l tell you that nearly took
my breath away. / could not realize that
the pale beauty, with large, lustrous eyes,
peary teeth, and the peachy tint in her
cheek, was a slave. was an abolitionist
ever after The incident had almost pass
Cd from my memory, when one day Nh
Spratt said to me, John, our neighbor's
pretty slave, Nellie, il to be sold to-
morrow, and [ am going to the sale at
Liberty.
is that not shocking was all that /
could say. There was no use protesting
/ vas helpless to aid her. But | inwardly
% We'll, you see, my neighbor, Russell,
has got d second wife. She is from St
Louis and very extravagant. He is little
run down financially, and has to raise the
wind. The wife insists that he shall sell
the girl Nellie, who seems to be red flag
in her face all the time. He has consent
ed, as she gill bring big price. Now,
John, 7 know that girls mother, aud have
known the young woman since she was
knee high to grasshopper. She Is a good,
simple creature, aud it is a shame to tear
her from her mother
." i want you to come Wlth me TO the
auction aud bid on the girl for me, as
Russell would not like to see me in the
competition, with the prospect Of bringing
her back 10 the next farm TO him.
d" How much will you give for herP /
enquired, really touched at the genuine
human sympathy displayed by Spratt.
:. We'll, I've been talking to my wife,
and have decided to 60 up to IL 500, just to
save The girl.'
In due time We arrived at the block,
and after several common nigers had been
knocked oil at from 300 10 81 900, the
beautiful octoro0n was put up. / believe
there was murder in my heart at the mo-
ment but / kept cool, as ! had serious
business on hand.
How much am ! offered for the hand
some wenchF yelled the uuctioneer.
Under instructions from Spratt my first
! bid was $4,000. But it was at once follow
ed by 81 200 1 bid u 800. Another bid
der shouted 81 400 ! returned with 81 500.
| And then followed ~ 600, which let me
out of the race. The bidding now settled
down between two dissipated young plant
| ers from down the river who seemed 10
have plenty Of money. The hundreds
were added until the girl was finally dis
posed Of for SO, 600.
II left Liberty with heavy hear, think
| inp Of the life in store for the unfortunate
octorpon. / waa not an ovcraensitiye man,
| but hen Mr.. Spratt told me that Nellie
was Rumell'5 own child-hia flesh and
| blood / thought it was time to pun up
atakca, and the next dag started for
| Brooklyn. With light heart heart |
entered the old Empire state, aud thank
| cd tod that here there were II" human
| chattels'