The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-16

block, took off his spectacles, and sale
something to the trader, who then crieC
out:
What do you think, good people
/ am asked to give this boy away
NV friend here offers me $500 for the
FIRST hand that ever stood on the
bl i'm this country. Five hundred
dolW ] am offered S500.'
Seven hundred dollars! cried the
Little Master.
"The trader stopped and looked at
the Little Master, as if he thought the
bid was a joke.
WHO said seven hundred?' he
asked.
u did, cried the Little Master.
Seven hundred it is, said the
trader. [ am offered seven hundred
only seven hundred
MIR. Gossett said something to the
trader, who cried out: Eight hun
dred! / am offered eight hundred
Nine hundred!' said the Little
Master
THAT is right cried the trader
Saddle bags full of money. Nine hun
dred! / am offered nine hundred dol.
lars!'
Mr.. Gosett nodded his head. / was
watching him.
lone thousand, cried the trader
4 am offered one thousand! Am | TO
give this man away for $t,000?'
Twelve hundred said the Little
Master in a voice as clear as a bell.
"'This seemed to stagger the trader.
He looked at the Little Master and
then looked at the crowd. He shoot
his head, and then some of the peopa
laughed This made others laugh,
and then the trader, very red in the
face, turned to Mr. Gossett and said:
I" I don't like to be made a fool o..
This negro is yours, sir, for $1,000
''This made the people laugh agaiI,
but the Little Master didn't laugh. He
cried to the crowd around, Get out If
the way heren and gave me the wo1i
to push my way through. / needed
neither whip nor spur for that, ami
the people in front of me had as muc1
as they could do to scuffie and scramble
out of my way.
Here, sir what does this meant
cried the Little Master. / bid $1,20),
and Won sell him for 81, 900. What ID
you mean?'
Don't bother me, sonny, the man
replied. The negro is mine / sci
him for what / please. This gentle
man here he pointed to Mr.. Gossett,
said you were playing one of your
pranks. I've no time for pranks. If
you are not pranking, plank down your
81 200 on that block there.
"Mr. Gossett had taken from his
pocket long red book, and was al
ready counting out the money he had
bid, Then and there a thing happened
that has never been understood by any
body but me- Everybody will tell you
that the Little Master tried to ride
over and run down Mr.. Gossett, but it
is not so. The Little Master had no
more to do with it than the old buggy
horse who was tied TO the rack near
BY. / felt the Little Masters hand
shake as it rested on my shoulder, and
/ heard him sob / was so mad that
everything grew dark except Mr.. Cos
sett's face. / plunged at his and tried
TO get his head in my mouth, but he
saw me coming and fell backward and
rolled out Of the way before | could
reach him, nor could / trample him.
His luck saved him.
"And then somebody caughtmy bride
go.
and gave il a jerk that brought me to
my senses. Whoever it was led me out
of the crowd and away from the Court
House / could feel the Little Master
shaking in the saddle, and / knew he
was crying, but / held my head down,
not knowing what to do or where to
presently the White-haired Master,
hearing Of the connection, came run
ming toward MS. His face was as white
as a sheet.
Why, my son! my darling boy!
What is the trouble?' lie placed his
arms around the Little Master. %, tell
your father! Has any one dared to
hurt so much of You as your little
finger? There. don't cry any more
"Then the Little Master told him
what you have already heard, his voice
shaking and his white hands tremb-
ling.
Wait said the White-haired Mas
ter
with that he suddenly turned and
went toward the crowd at the Court
House / followed, though the Little
Master never touched a rein. The
people seemed to expect something,
and they made way for the White-hair-
ed Master and for me, with my nose
at his coat-tails.
"Has the sale been closed?' he asked
sharply. His words snapped out like
the popping Of a whip.
Yes, sir; yes, sir--it has been clos
ed, the trader replied He was as
humble and polite as one of his poor
negroes.
'Gossett! said the White-haired
Master his voice sounded like / have
heard it when he was talking to a
lazy plough hand ossett! will give
you 81 800 for your bargain
'Mr Gossett shook his head and
smiled, showing two or three yellow
teeth. ] was so anxious to get at him
that the Little Master was compelled
to slap me with the slack of the bride
reins and bid me stand still.
mo, said Mr.. Gossett, I'D rutheT
have the niger than the money