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diff --git a/old/64804-h/64804-h.htm b/old/64804-h/64804-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 6a0d979..0000000 --- a/old/64804-h/64804-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1577 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> - -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of What Became of the Slaves, by Q. K. Philander Doesticks. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - - p { margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; - } - - p.bold {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} - p.bold2 {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-size: 150%;} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - } - h1 span, h2 span { display: block; text-align: center; } - #id1 { font-size: smaller } - - - hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; - } - - hr.smler { - width: 15%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 42.5%; - margin-right: 42.5%; - clear: both; - } - - body{margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; - } - - table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 5px; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; text-align: right;} - - .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - text-indent: 0px; - } /* page numbers */ - - .center {text-align: center;} - .mynote { background-color: #DDE; color: black; padding: .5em; margin-left: 20%; - margin-right: 20%; } /* colored box for notes at beginning of file */ - .space-above {margin-top: 3em;} - .left {text-align: left;} - .s3 {display: inline; margin-left: 3em;} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - -<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?, by Q. K. Philander Doesticks</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<table style='min-width:0; padding:0; margin-left:0; border-collapse:collapse'> - <tr><td>Title:</td><td>What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?</td></tr> - <tr><td></td><td>Great Auction Sale of Slaves, at Savannah, Georgia, March 2d & 3d, 1859</td></tr> -</table> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Q. K. Philander Doesticks</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 13, 2021 [eBook #64804]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT BECAME OF THE SLAVES ON A GEORGIA PLANTATION? ***</div> - -<div class="mynote"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:<br /><br /> -Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.<br /></p></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/title.jpg" alt="title page" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> - -<h1>WHAT BECAME OF THE SLAVES</h1> - -<p class="bold space-above">ON A</p> - -<p class="bold2 space-above">GEORGIA PLANTATION?</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="bold space-above">GREAT</p> - -<p class="bold2 space-above">AUCTION SALE OF SLAVES,</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">AT</p> - -<p class="bold2 space-above">SAVANNAH, GEORGIA,</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">MARCH 2d & 3d, 1859.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">A SEQUEL TO MRS. KEMBLE'S JOURNAL.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="bold space-above">1863.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<h2>SALE OF SLAVES.</h2> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/line.jpg" alt="line" /></div> - -<p>The largest sale of human chattels that has been made in Star-Spangled -America for several years, took place on Wednesday and -Thursday of last week, at the Race-course near the City of Savannah, -Georgia. The lot consisted of four hundred and thirty-six -men, women, children and infants, being that half of the negro -stock remaining on the old Major Butler plantations which fell to -one of the two heirs to that estate. Major Butler, dying, left a -property valued at more than a million of dollars, the major part -of which was invested in rice and cotton plantations, and the slaves -thereon, all of which immense fortune descended to two heirs, his -sons, Mr. John A. Butler, sometime deceased, and Mr. Pierce M. -Butler, still living, and resident in the City of Philadelphia, in the -free State of Pennsylvania. Losses in the great crash of 1857-8, -and other exigencies of business, have compelled the latter gentleman -to realize on his Southern investments, that he may satisfy his -pressing creditors. This necessity led to a partition of the negro -stock on the Georgia plantations, between himself and the representative -of the other heir, the widow of the late John A. Butler, -and the negroes that were brought to the hammer last week were -the property of Mr. Pierce M. Butler, of Philadelphia, and were in -fact sold to pay Mr. Pierce M. Butler's debts. The creditors were -represented by Gen. Cadwalader, while Mr. Butler was present in -person, attended by his business agent, to attend to his own -interests.</p> - -<p>The sale had been advertised largely for many weeks, though the -name of Mr. Butler was not mentioned; and as the negroes were -known to be a choice lot and very desirable property, the attendance -of buyers was large. The breaking up of an old family estate -is so uncommon an occurrence that the affair was regarded with -unusual interest throughout the South. For several days before -the sale every hotel in Savannah was crowded with negro speculators -from North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, -and Louisiana, who had been attracted hither by the prospects of -making good bargains. Nothing was heard for days, in the barrooms -and public rooms, but talk of the great sale; criticisms of the -business affairs of Mr. Butler, and speculations as to the probable -prices the stock would bring. The office of Joseph Bryan, the -Negro Broker, who had the management of the sale, was thronged -every day by eager inquirers in search of information, and by some -who were anxious to buy, but were uncertain as to whether their -securities would prove acceptable. Little parties were made up -from the various hotels every day to visit the Race-course, distant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> -some three miles from the city, to look over the chattels, discuss -their points, and make memoranda for guidance on the day of sale. -The buyers were generally of a rough breed, slangy, profane and -bearish, being for the most part from the back river and swamp -plantations, where the elegancies of polite life are not, perhaps, -developed to their fullest extent. In fact, the humanities are sadly -neglected by the petty tyrants of the rice-fields that border the -great Dismal Swamp, their knowledge of the luxuries of our best -society comprehending only revolvers and kindred delicacies.</p> - -<p>Your correspondent was present at an early date; but as he -easily anticipated the touching welcome that would, at such a -time, be officiously extended to a representative of <i>The Tribune</i>, -and being a modest man withal, and not desiring to be the recipient -of a public demonstration from the enthusiastic Southern population, -who at times overdo their hospitality and their guests, he did -not placard his mission and claim his honors. Although he kept -his business in the back-ground, he made himself a prominent figure -in the picture, and, wherever there was anything going on, there -was he in the midst. At the sale might have been seen a busy individual, -armed with pencil and catalogue, doing his little utmost to -keep up all the appearance of a knowing buyer, pricing "likely nigger -fellers," talking confidentially to the smartest ebon maids, -chucking the round-eyed youngsters under the chin, making an -occasional bid for a large family, (a low bid—so low that somebody -always instantly raised him twenty-five dollars, when the busy man -would ignominiously retreat,) and otherwise conducting himself like -a rich planter, with forty thousand dollars where he could put his -finger on it. This gentleman was much condoled with by some -sympathizing persons, when the particularly fine lot on which he -had fixed his eye was sold and lost to him forever, because he happened -to be down stairs at lunch just at the interesting moment.</p> - -<h3>WHERE THE NEGROES CAME FROM.</h3> - -<p>The negroes came from two plantations, the one a rice plantation -near Darien, in the State of Georgia, not far from the great Okefenokee -Swamp, and the other a cotton plantation on the extreme -northern point of St. Simon's Island, a little bit of an island in the -Atlantic, cut off from Georgia mainland by a slender arm of the sea. -Though the most of the stock had been accustomed only to rice and -cotton planting, there were among them a number of very passable -mechanics, who had been taught to do all the rougher sorts of -mechanical work on the plantations. There were coopers, carpenters, -shoemakers and blacksmiths, each one equal, in his various -craft, to the ordinary requirements of a plantation; thus, the coopers -could make rice-tierces, and possibly, on a pinch, rude tubs and -buckets; the carpenter could do the rough carpentry about the -negro-quarters; the shoemaker could make shoes of the fashion -required for the slaves, and the blacksmith was adequate to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -manufacture of hoes and similar simple tools, and to such trifling -repairs in the blacksmithing way as did not require too refined a -skill. Though probably no one of all these would be called a superior, -or even an average workman, among the masters of the craft, -their knowledge of these various trades sold in some cases for nearly -as much as the man—that is, a man without a trade, who would be -valued at $900, would readily bring $1,600 or $1,700 if he was a -passable blacksmith or cooper.</p> - -<p>There were no light mulattoes in the whole lot of the Butler -stock, and but very few that were even a shade removed from the -original Congo blackness. They have been little defiled by the admixture -of degenerate Anglo-Saxon blood, and, for the most part, could -boast that they were of as pure a breed as the best blood of Spain—a -point in their favor in the eyes of the buyer as well as physiologically, -for too liberal an infusion of the blood of the dominant race -brings a larger intelligence, a more vigorous brain, which, anon, -grows restless under the yoke, and is prone to inquire into the definition -of the word Liberty, and the meaning of the starry flag which -waves, as you may have heard, o'er the land of the free. The pure-blooded -negroes are much more docile and manageable than mulattoes, -though less quick of comprehension, which makes them preferred -by drivers, who can stimulate stupidity much easier than they can -control intelligence by the lash.</p> - -<p>None of the Butler slaves have ever been sold before, but have -been on these two plantations since they were born. Here have -they lived their humble lives, and loved their simple loves; here were -they born, and here have many of them had children born unto -them; here had their parents lived before them, and are now resting -in quiet graves on the old plantations that these unhappy ones -are to see no more forever; here they left not only the well-known -scenes dear to them from very baby-hood by a thousand fond memories, -and homes as much loved by them, perhaps, as brighter homes -by men of brighter faces; but all the clinging ties that bound them -to living hearts were torn asunder, for but one-half of each of -these two happy little communities was sent to the shambles, to be -scattered to the four winds, and the other half was left behind. -And who can tell how closely intertwined are the affections of a little -band of four hundred persons, living isolated from all the world -beside, from birth to middle age? Do they not naturally become -one great family, each man a brother unto each?</p> - -<p>It is true they were sold "in families;" but let us see: a man -and his wife were called a "family," their parents and kindred -were not taken into account; the man and wife might be sold to -the pine woods of North Carolina, their brothers and sisters be scattered -through the cotton fields of Alabama and the rice swamps of -Louisiana, while the parents might be left on the old plantation to -wear out their weary lives in heavy grief, and lay their heads in -far-off graves, over which their children might never weep. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -no account could be taken of loves that were as yet unconsummated -by marriage; and how many aching hearts have been -divorced by this summary proceeding no man can ever know. -And the separation is as utter, and is infinitely more hopeless, than -that made by the Angel of Death, for then the loved ones are committed -to the care of a merciful Deity; but in the other instance, -to the tender mercies of a slave-driver. These dark-skinned unfortunates -are perfectly unlettered, and could not communicate by -writing even if they should know where to send their missives. -And so to each other, and to the old familiar places of their youth, -clung all their sympathies and affections, not less strong, perhaps, -because they are so few. The blades of grass on all the Butler -estates are outnumbered by the tears that are poured out in agony -at the wreck that has been wrought in happy homes, and the crushing -grief that has been laid on loving hearts.</p> - -<p>But, then, what business have "niggers" with tears? Besides, -didn't Pierce Butler give them a silver dollar a-piece? which will -appear in the sequel. And, sad as it is, it was all necessary, because -a gentleman was not able to live on the beggarly pittance of -half a million, and so must needs enter into speculations which -turned out adversely.</p> - -<h3>HOW THEY WERE TREATED IN SAVANNAH.</h3> - -<p>The negroes were brought to Savannah in small lots, as many at -a time as could be conveniently taken care of, the last of them -reaching the city the Friday before the sale. They were consigned -to the care of Mr. J. Bryan, Auctioneer and Negro Broker, who -was to feed and keep them in condition until disposed of. Immediately -on their arrival they were taken to the Race-course, and -there quartered in the sheds erected for the accommodation of the -horses and carriages of gentlemen attending the races. Into these -sheds they were huddled pell-mell, without any more attention to -their comfort than was necessary to prevent their becoming ill and -unsaleable. Each "family" had one or more boxes or bundles, in -which were stowed such scanty articles of their clothing as were -not brought into immediate requisition, and their tin dishes and -gourds for their food and drink.</p> - -<p>It is, perhaps, a fit tribute to large-handed munificence to say -that, when the negro man was sold, there was no extra charge for -the negro man's clothes; they went with the man, and were not -charged in the bill. Nor is this altogether a contemptible idea, -for many of them had worldly wealth, in the shape of clothing and -other valuables, to the extent of perhaps four or five dollars; and -had all these been taken strictly into the account, the sum total of -the sale would have been increased, possibly, a thousand dollars. -In the North, we do not necessarily sell the harness with the horse; -why, in the South, should the clothes go with the negro?</p> - -<p>In these sheds were the chattels huddled together on the floor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -there being no sign of bench or table. They eat and slept on the -bare boards, their food being rice and beans, with occasionally a -bit of bacon and corn bread. Their huge bundles were scattered -over the floor, and thereon the slaves sat or reclined, when not -restlessly moving about, or gathered into sorrowful groups, discussing -the chances of their future fate. On the faces of all was an -expression of heavy grief; some appeared to be resigned to the -hard stroke of Fortune that had torn them from their homes, and -were sadly trying to make the best of it; some sat brooding moodily -over their sorrows, their chins resting on their hands, their eyes -staring vacantly, and their bodies rocking to and fro, with a restless -motion that was never stilled; few wept, the place was too -public and the drivers too near, though some occasionally turned -aside to give way to a few quiet tears. They were dressed in -every possible variety of uncouth and fantastic garb, in every style -and of every imaginable color; the texture of the garments was in -all cases coarse, most of the men being clothed in the rough cloth -that is made expressly for the slaves. The dresses assumed by the -negro minstrels, when they give imitations of plantation character, -are by no means exaggerated; they are, instead, weak and unable -to come up to the original. There was every variety of hats, with -every imaginable slouch; and there was every cut and style of -coat and pantaloons, made with every conceivable ingenuity of -misfit, and tossed on with a general appearance of perfect looseness -that is perfectly indescribable, except to say that a Southern negro -always looks as if he could shake his clothes off without taking his -hands out of his pockets. The women, true to the feminine instinct, -had made, in almost every case, some attempt at finery. All wore -gorgeous turbans, generally manufactured in an instant out of a -gay-colored handkerchief by a sudden and graceful twist of the -fingers; though there was occasionally a more elaborate turban, a -turban complex and mysterious, got up with care, and ornamented -with a few beads or bright bits of ribbon. Their dresses were -mostly coarse stuff, though there were some gaudy calicoes; a few -had ear-rings, and one possessed the treasure of a string of yellow -and blue beads. The little children were always better and more -carefully dressed than the older ones, the parental pride coming -out in the shape of a yellow cap pointed like a mitre, or a jacket -with a strip of red broadcloth round the bottom. The children -were of all sizes, the youngest being fifteen days old. The babies -were generally good-natured; though when one would set up a -yell, the complaint soon attacked the others, and a full chorus -would be the result.</p> - -<p>The slaves remained at the Race-course, some of them for more -than a week, and all of them for four days before the sale. They -were brought in thus early that buyers who desired to inspect them -might enjoy that privilege, although none of them were sold at private -sale. For these preliminary days their shed was constantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -visited by speculators. The negroes were examined with as little -consideration as if they had been brutes indeed; the buyers pulling -their mouths open to see their teeth, pinching their limbs to -find how muscular they were, walking them up and down to detect -any signs of lameness, making them stoop and bend in different -ways that they might be certain there was no concealed rupture or -wound; and in addition to all this treatment, asking them scores of -questions relative to their qualifications and accomplishments. All -these humiliations were submitted to without a murmur, and in -some instances with good-natured cheerfulness—where the slave -liked the appearance of the proposed buyer, and fancied that he -might prove a kind "Mas'r."</p> - -<p>The following curiously sad scene is the type of a score of others -that were there enacted:</p> - -<p>"Elisha," chattel No. 5 in the catalogue, had taken a fancy to a -benevolent-looking middle-aged gentleman, who was inspecting the -stock, and thus used his powers of persuasion to induce the benevolent -man to purchase him, with his wife, boy and girl, Molly, Israel -and Sevanda, chattels Nos. 6, 7 and 8. The earnestness with -which the poor fellow pressed his suit, knowing, as he did, that -perhaps the happiness of his whole life depended on his success, -was touching, and the arguments he used most pathetic. He made -no appeal to the feelings of the buyer; he rested no hope on his -charity and kindness, but only strove to show how well worth his -dollars were the bone and blood he was entreating him to buy.</p> - -<p>"Look at me, Mas'r; am prime rice planter; sho' you won't find -a better man den me; no better on de whole plantation; not a bit -old yet; do mo' work den ever; do carpenter work, too, little; -better buy me, Mas'r; I'se be good sarvant, Mas'r. Molly, too, my -wife, Sa, fus'rate rice hand; mos as good as me. Stan' out yer, -Molly, and let the gen'lm'n see."</p> - -<p>Molly advances, with her hands crossed on her bosom, and makes -a quick short curtsy, and stands mute, looking appealingly in the -benevolent man's face. But Elisha talks all the faster.</p> - -<p>"Show mas'r yer arm, Molly—good arm dat, Mas'r—she do a -heap of work mo' with dat arm yet. Let good Mas'r see yer teeth, -Molly—see dat Mas'r, teeth all reg'lar, all good—she'm young gal -yet. Come out yer, Israel, walk aroun' an' let the gen'lm'n see -how spry you be"—</p> - -<p>Then, pointing to the three-year-old girl who stood with her chubby -hand to her mouth, holding on to her mother's dress, and uncertain -what to make of the strange scene.</p> - -<p>"Little Vardy's only a chile yet; make prime gal by-and-by. -Better buy us, Mas'r, we'm fus' rate bargain"—and so on. But -the benevolent gentleman found where he could drive a closer bargain, -and so bought somebody else.</p> - -<p>Similar scenes were transacting all the while on every side—parents -praising the strength and cleverness of their children, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -showing off every muscle and sinew to the very best advantage, not -with the excusable pride of other parents, but to make them the -more desirable in the eyes of the man-buyer; and, on the other -hand, children excusing and mitigating the age and inability of -parents, that they might be more marketable and fall, if possible, -into kind hands. Not unfrequently these representations, if borne -out by the facts, secured a purchaser. The women never spoke to -the white men unless spoken to, and then made the conference as -short as possible. And not one of them all, during the whole time -they were thus exposed to the rude questions of vulgar men, spoke -the first unwomanly or indelicate word, or conducted herself in any -regard otherwise than as a modest woman should do; their conversation -and demeanor were quite as unexceptionable as they would -have been had they been the highest ladies in the land, and through -all the insults to which they were subjected they conducted themselves -with the most perfect decorum and self-respect.</p> - -<p>The sentiment of the subjoined characteristic dialogue was heard -more than once repeated:</p> - -<p>"Well, Colonel, I seen you looking sharp at Shoemaker Bill's -Sally. Going to buy her?</p> - -<p>"Well, Major, I think not. Sally's a good, big, strapping gal, -and can do a heap o' work; but it's five years since she had any -children. <i>She's done breeding, I reckon.</i>"</p> - -<p>In the intervals of more active labor, the discussion of the reopening -of the slave trade was commenced, and the opinion seemed -to generally prevail that its reëstablishment is a consummation -devoutly to be wished, and one red-faced Major or General or Corporal -clenched his remarks with the emphatic assertion that "We'll -have all the niggers in Africa over here in three years—we won't -leave enough for seed."</p> - -<h3>THE SALE.</h3> - -<p>The Race-course at Savannah is situated about three miles from -the city, in a pleasant spot, nearly surrounded by woods. As it -rained violently during the two days of the sale, the place was only -accessible by carriages, and the result was, that few attended but -actual buyers, who had come from long distances, and could not -afford to lose the opportunity. If the affair had come off in Yankee -land, there would have been a dozen omnibuses running constantly -between the city and the Race-course, and some speculator would -have bagged a nice little sum of money by the operation. But -nothing of the kind was thought of here, and the only gainers were -the livery stables, the owners of which had sufficient Yankeeism to -charge double and treble prices.</p> - -<p>The conveniences for getting to the ground were so limited that -there were not enough buyers to warrant the opening of the sale -for an hour or two after the advertised time. They dropped in, -however, a few at a time, and things began to look more encouragingly -for the seller.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> -<p>The negroes looked more uncomfortable than ever; the close confinement -in-doors for a number of days, and the drizzly, unpleasant -weather, began to tell on their condition. They moved about more -listlessly, and were fast losing the activity and springiness they had -at first shown. This morning they were all gathered into the long -room of the building erected as the "Grand Stand" of the Race-course, -that they might be immediately under the eye of the buyers. -The room was about a hundred feet long by twenty wide, and herein -were crowded the poor creatures, with much of their baggage, -awaiting their respective calls to step upon the block and be sold -to the highest bidder. This morning Mr. Pierce Butler appeared -among his people, speaking to each one, and being recognized with -seeming pleasure by all. The men obsequiously pulled off their -hats and made that indescribable sliding hitch with the foot which -passes with a negro for a bow; and the women each dropped the -quick curtsy, which they seldom vouchsafe to any other than their -legitimate master and mistress. Occasionally, to a very old or -favorite servant, Mr. Butler would extend his gloved hand, which -mark of condescension was instantly hailed with grins of delight -from all the sable witnesses.</p> - -<p>The room in which the sale actually took place immediately adjoined -the room of the negroes, and communicated with it by two -large doors. The sale room was open to the air on one side, commanding -a view of the entire Course. A small platform was raised -about two feet and a-half high, on which were placed the desks of -the entry clerks, leaving room in front of them for the auctioneer -and the goods.</p> - -<p>At about 11 o'clock the business men took their places, and announced -that the sale would begin. Mr. Bryan, the Negro Broker, -is a dapper little man, wearing spectacles and a yachting hat, sharp -and sudden in his movements, and perhaps the least bit in the world -obtrusively officious—as earnest in his language as he could be without -actual swearing, though acting much as if he would like to -swear a little at the critical moment; Mr. Bryan did not sell the -goods, he merely superintended the operation, and saw that the -entry clerks did their duty properly. The auctioneer proper was a -Mr. Walsh, who deserves a word of description. In personal appearance -he is the very opposite of Mr. Bryan, being careless in -his dress instead of scrupulous, a large man instead of a little one, -a fat man instead of a lean one, and a good-natured man instead of -a fierce one. He is a rollicking old boy, with an eye ever on the -look-out, and that never lets a bidding nod escape him; a hearty -word for every bidder who cares for it, and plenty of jokes to let off -when the business gets a little slack. Mr. Walsh has a florid complexion, -not more so, perhaps, than is becoming, and possibly not -more so than is natural in a whiskey country. Not only is his face -red, but his skin has been taken off in spots by blisters of some sort, -giving him a peely look; so that, taking his face all in all, the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>peeliness -and the redness combined, he looks much as if he had been -boiled in the same pot with a red cabbage.</p> - -<p>Mr. Walsh mounted the stand and announced the terms of the -sale, "one-third cash, the remainder payable in two equal annual -instalments, bearing interest from the day of sale, to be secured by -approved mortgage and personal security, or approved acceptances -in Savannah, Ga., or Charleston, S. C. Purchasers to pay for -papers." The buyers, who were present to the number of about -two hundred, clustered around the platform; while the negroes, who -were not likely to be immediately wanted, gathered into sad groups -in the back-ground, to watch the progress of the selling in which -they were so sorrowfully interested. The wind howled outside, and -through the open side of the building the driving rain came pouring -in; the bar down stairs ceased for a short time its brisk trade; the -buyers lit fresh cigars, got ready their catalogues and pencils, and -the first lot of human chattels was led upon the stand, not by a -white man, but by a sleek mulatto, himself a slave, and who seems -to regard the selling of his brethren, in which he so glibly assists, -as a capital joke. It had been announced that the negroes would -be sold in "families," that is to say, a man would not be parted -from his wife, or a mother from a very young child. There is perhaps -as much policy as humanity in this arrangement, for thereby -many aged and unserviceable people are disposed of, who otherwise -would not find a ready sale.</p> - -<p>The first family brought out were announced on the catalogue as</p> - -<table summary="first family brought out"> - <tr> - <td class="center">NAME.</td> - <td class="center">AGE.</td> - <td class="center">REMARKS.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">1. George,<span class="s3"> </span></td> - <td class="center">27</td> - <td class="left"><span class="s3"> </span>Prime Cotton Planter.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">2. Sue,</td> - <td class="center">26</td> - <td class="left"><span class="s3"> </span>Prime Rice Planter.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">3. George,</td> - <td class="center">6</td> - <td class="left"><span class="s3"> </span>Boy Child.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left">4. Harry,</td> - <td class="center">2</td> - <td class="left"><span class="s3"> </span>Boy Child.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>The manner of buying was announced to be bidding a certain -price a-piece for the whole lot. Thus, George and his family were -started at $300, and were finally sold at $600 each, being $2,400 -for the four. To get an idea of the relative value of each one, we -must suppose George worth $1,200, Sue worth $900, Little George -worth $200, and Harry worth $100. Owing, however, to some misapprehension -on the part of the buyer, as to the manner of bidding, -he did not take the family at this figure, and they were put up and -sold again, on the second day, when they brought $620 each, or -$2,480 for the whole—an advance of $80 over the first sale.</p> - -<p>Robert, and Luna his wife, who were announced as having -"goitre, otherwise very prime," brought the round sum of $1,005 -each. But that your readers may have an idea of the exact manner -in which things are done, I append a couple of pages of the -catalogue used on this occasion, which you can print verbatim:</p> - -<blockquote><p> -<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">99—Kate's John, aged 30; rice, prime man.</span><br /> -100—Betsey, 29; rice, unsound.<br /> -101—Kate, 6.<br /> -102—Violet, 3 months.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $510 each.</span><br /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>103—Wooster, 45; rice hand, and fair mason.<br /> -104—Mary, 40; cotton hand.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $300 each.</span><br /> -105—Commodore Bob, aged; rice hand.<br /> -106—Kate, aged; cotton.<br /> -107—Linda, 19; cotton, prime young woman.<br /> -108—Joe, 13; rice, prime boy.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $600 each.</span><br /> -109—Bob, 30; rice.<br /> -110—Mary, 25; rice, prime woman.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $1,135 each.</span><br /> -111—Anson, 49; rice—ruptured, one eye.<br /> -112—Violet, 55; rice hand.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $250 each.</span><br /> -113—Allen Jeffrey, 46; rice hand and sawyer in steam mill.<br /> -114—Sikey, 43; rice hand.<br /> -115—Watty, 5; infirm legs.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $520 each.</span><br /> -116—Rina, 18; rice, prime young woman.<br /> -117—Lena, 1.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $645 each.</span><br /> -118—Pompey, 31; rice—lame in one foot.<br /> -119—Kitty, 30; rice, prime woman.<br /> -120—Pompey, Jr., 10; prime boy.<br /> -121—John, 7.<br /> -122—Noble, 1; boy.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $580 each.</span><br /> -341—Goin, 39; rice hand.<br /> -342—Cassander, 35; cotton hand—has fits.<br /> -343—Emiline, 19; cotton, prime young woman.<br /> -344—Judy, 11; cotton, prime girl.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $400 each.</span><br /> -345—Dorcas, 17; cotton, prime woman.<br /> -346—Joe, 3 months.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $1,200 each.</span><br /> -347—Tom, 22; cotton hand. Sold for $1,260.<br /> -348—Judge Will, 55; rice hand. Sold for $325.<br /> -349—Lowden, 54; cotton hand.<br /> -350—Hagar, 50; cotton hand.<br /> -351—Lowden, 15; cotton, prime boy.<br /> -352—Silas, 13; cotton, prime boy.<br /> -353—Lettia, 11; cotton, prime girl.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $300 each.</span><br /> -354—Fielding, 21; cotton, prime young man.<br /> -355—Abel, 19; cotton, prime young man.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $1,295 each.</span><br /> -356—Smith's Bill, aged; sore leg.<br /> -357—Leah, 46; cotton hand.<br /> -358—Sally, 9.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Withdrawn.</span><br /> -359—Adam, 24; rice, prime man.<br /> -360—Charlotte, 22; rice, prime woman.<br /> -361—Lesh, 1.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $750 each.</span><br /> -362—Maria, 47; rice hand.<br /> -363—Luna, 22; rice, prime woman.<br /> -364—Clementina, 17; rice, prime young woman.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $950 each.</span><br /> -365—Tom, 48; rice hand.<br /> -366—Harriet, 41; rice hand<br /> -367—Wanney, 19; rice hand, prime young man.<br /> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>368—Deborah, 6.<br /> -369—Infant, 3 months.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Sold for $700 each.</span><br /> -</p></blockquote> - -<p>It seems as if every shade of character capable of being implicated -in the sale of human flesh and blood was represented among -the buyers. There was the Georgia fast young man, with his pantaloons -tucked into his boots, his velvet cap jauntily dragged over to -one side, his cheek full of tobacco, which he bites from a huge plug, -that resembles more than anything else an old bit of a rusty wagon -tire, and who is altogether an animal of quite a different breed from -your New York fast man. His ready revolver, or his convenient -knife, is ready for instant use in case of a heated argument. White-neck-clothed, -gold-spectacled, and silver-haired old men were there, -resembling in appearance that noxious breed of sanctimonious deacons -we have at the North, who are perpetually leaving documents -at your door that you never read, and the business of whose mendicant -life it is to eternally solicit subscriptions for charitable associations, -of which they are treasurers. These gentry, with quiet step -and subdued voice, moved carefully about among the live stock, -ignoring, as a general rule, the men, but tormenting the women -with questions which, when accidentally overheard by the disinterested -spectator, bred in that spectator's mind an almost irresistible -desire to knock somebody down. And then, all imaginable varieties -of rough, backwoods rowdies, who began the day in a spirited -manner, but who, as its hours progressed, and their practice at the -bar became more prolific in results, waxed louder and talkier and -more violent, were present, and added a characteristic feature to -the assemblage. Those of your readers who have read "Uncle -Tom,"—and who has not?—will remember, with peculiar feelings, -Legree, the slave-driver and woman-whipper. That that character -is not been overdrawn, or too highly colored, there is abundant -testimony. Witness the subjoined dialogue: A party of men were -conversing on the fruitful subject of managing refractory "niggers;" -some were for severe whipping, some recommending branding, one -or two advocated other modes of torture, but one huge brute of a -man, who had not taken an active part in the discussion, save to -assent, with approving nod, to any unusually barbarous proposition, -at last broke his silence by saying, in an oracular way, "You may -say what you like about managing niggers; I'm a driver myself, -and I've had some experience, and I ought to know. You can manage -ordinary niggers by lickin' 'em, and givin' 'em a taste of the -hot iron once in awhile when they're extra ugly; but if a nigger -really sets himself up against me, I can't never have any patience -with him. I just get my pistol and shoot him right down; and -that's the best way."</p> - -<p>And this brute was talking to gentlemen, and his remarks were -listened to with attention, and his assertions assented to by more -than one in the knot of listeners. But all this time the sale was -going on, and the merry Mr. Walsh, with many a quip and jest, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -beguiling the time when the bidding was slow. The expression on -the faces of all who stepped on the block was always the same, and -told of more anguish than it is in the power of words to express. -Blighted homes, crushed hopes and broken hearts, was the sad story -to be read in all the anxious faces. Some of them regarded the -sale with perfect indifference, never making a motion, save to turn -from one side to the other at the word of the dapper Mr. Bryan, -that all the crowd might have a fair view of their proportions, and -then, when the sale was accomplished, stepped down from the block -without caring to cast even a look at the buyer, who now held all -their happiness in his hands. Others, again, strained their eyes -with eager glances from one buyer to another as the bidding went -on, trying with earnest attention to follow the rapid voice of the -auctioneer. Sometimes, two persons only would be bidding for the -same chattel, all the others having resigned the contest, and then -the poor creature on the block, conceiving an instantaneous preference -for one of the buyers over the other, would regard the rivalry -with the intensest interest, the expression of his face changing with -every bid, settling into a half smile of joy if the favorite buyer persevered -unto the end and secured the property, and settling down -into a look of hopeless despair if the other won the victory.</p> - -<h3>DAPHNEY'S BABY.</h3> - -<p>The family of Primus, plantation carpenter, consisting of Daphney -his wife, with her young babe, and Dido, a girl of three years -old, were reached in due course of time. Daphney had a large -shawl, which she kept carefully wrapped round her infant and herself. -This unusual proceeding attracted much attention, and provoked -many remarks, such as these:</p> - -<p>"What do you keep your nigger covered up for? Pull off her -blanket."</p> - -<p>"What's the matter with the gal? Has she got the headache?"</p> - -<p>"What's the fault of the gal? Ain't she sound? Pull off her -rags and let us see her."</p> - -<p>"Who's going to bid on that nigger, if you keep her covered -up. Let's see her face."</p> - -<p>And a loud chorus of similar remarks, emphasized with profanity, -and mingled with sayings too indecent and obscene to be even -hinted at here, went up from the crowd of chivalrous Southern -gentlemen.</p> - -<p>At last the auctioneer obtained a hearing long enough to explain -that there was no attempt to practise any deception in the case—the -parties were not to be wronged in any way; he had no desire -to palm off on them an inferior article; but the truth of the matter -was that Daphney had been confined only fifteen days ago, and he -thought that on that account she was entitled to the slight indulgence -of a blanket, to keep from herself and child the chill air and -the driving rain.</p> - -<p>Will your lady readers look at the circumstances of this case?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -The day was the 2d day of March. Daphney's baby was born into -the world on St. Valentine's happy day, the 14th of February.</p> - -<p>Since her confinement, Daphney had traveled from the plantation -to Savannah, where she had been kept in a shed for six days. -On the sixth or seventh day after her sickness, she had left her -bed, taken a railroad journey across the country to the shambles, -was there exposed for six days to the questionings and insults of -the negro speculators, and then on the fifteenth day after her -confinement was put up on the block, with her husband and her -other child, and, with her new-born baby in her arms, sold to the -highest bidder.</p> - -<p>It was very considerate of Daphney to be sick before the sale, -for her wailing babe was worth to Mr. Butler all of a hundred -dollars. The family sold for $625 a-piece, or $2,500 for the four.</p> - -<h3>BOB AND MARY.</h3> - -<p>This was a couple not quite a year married, and were down in -the catalogue as "prime." They had no children yet; Mary, -with a reprehensible lack of that tender interest in Mr. Butler's -affairs that had been exhibited in so eminent a degree by Daphney, -had disappointed that worthy man's expectations, and the baby as -yet was not. But Bob and Mary sold for $1,135 a-piece, for all -that.</p> - -<p>In another instance, Margaret, the wife of Doctor George, who -was confined on February 16, though the name of herself and -family were inserted in the catalogue, did not come to the sale, -and consequently, they were not disposed of at all. As Margaret's -baby was fully four days old at the time she was required to start -on her journey to Savannah, we can only look at her refusal to go -as a most culpable instance of perversity. Margaret should be -whipped, and branded, and otherwise kindly admonished of her -great sin in thus disappointing the reasonable expectations of so -kind a master. But Mr. Butler bore with her in a truly Christian -spirit, and uttered no reproach—in public at least. It was the -more unkind of Margaret, too, because there were six in the family -who would have brought probably $4,000, and all were detained -from the sale by the contumacy of misguided Margaret.</p> - -<p>While on the subject of babies, it may be mentioned that Amity, -chattel No. 316, wife of Prince, chattel No. 315, had testified her -earnest desire to contribute all in her power to the worldly wealth -of her master by bringing into the world at one time chattles Nos. -317 and 318, being a fine pair of twin boys, just a year old. It is -not in evidence that Amity received from her master any testimonial -of his appreciating her good behavior on this occasion, but -it is certain that she brought a great price, the four, Prince, Amity -and the twins selling for $670 a-piece, being a total of $2,680.</p> - -<p>Many other babies, of all ages of baby-hood, were sold, but there -was nothing particularly interesting about them. There were some -thirty babies in the lot; they are esteemed worth to the master a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -hundred dollars the day they are born, and to increase in value at -the rate of a hundred dollars a year till they are sixteen or seventeen -years old, at which age they bring the best prices.</p> - -<h3>THE LOVE STORY OF JEFFREY AND DORCAS.</h3> - -<p>Jeffrey, chattel No. 319, marked as a "prime cotton hand," -aged 23 years, was put up. Jeffrey being a likely lad, the competition -was high. The first bid was $1,100, and he was finally sold -for $1,310. Jeffrey was sold alone; he had no incumbrance in the -shape of an aged father or mother, who must necessarily be sold -with him; nor had he any children, for Jeffrey was not married. -But Jeffrey, chattel No. 319, being human in his affections, had -dared to cherish a love for Dorcas, chattel No. 278; and Dorcas, -not having the fear of her master before her eyes, had given her -heart to Jeffrey. Whether what followed was a just retribution on -Jeffrey and Dorcas, for daring to take such liberties with their -master's property as to exchange hearts, or whether it only goes to -prove that with black as with white the saying holds, that "the -course of true love never did run smooth," cannot now be told. -Certain it is that these two lovers were not to realize the consummation -of their hopes in happy wedlock. Jeffrey and Dorcas had -told their loves, had exchanged their simple vows, and were betrothed, -each to the other as dear, and each by the other as fondly -beloved as though their skins had been of fairer color. And who -shall say that, in the sight of Heaven and all holy angels, these -two humble hearts were not as closely wedded as any two of the -prouder race that call them slaves?</p> - -<p>Be that as it may, Jeffrey was sold. He finds out his new master; -and, hat in hand, the big tears standing in his eyes, and his -voice trembling with emotion, he stands before that master and -tells his simple story, praying that his betrothed may be bought -with him. Though his voice trembles, there is no embarrassment -in his manner; his fears have killed all the bashfulness that would -naturally attend such a recital to a stranger, and before unsympathizing -witnesses; he feels that he is pleading for the happiness of -her he loves, as well as for his own, and his tale is told in a frank -and manly way.</p> - -<p>"I loves Dorcas, young Mas'r; I loves her well an' true; she -says she loves me, and I know she does; de good Lord knows I -loves her better than I loves any one in de wide world—never can -love another woman half so well. Please buy Dorcas, Mas'r. -We're be good sarvants to you long as we live. We're be married -right soon, young Mas'r, and de chillun will be healthy and strong, -Mas'r, and dey'll be good sarvants, too. Please buy Dorcas, young -Mas'r. We loves each other a heap—do, really true, Mas'r."</p> - -<p>Jeffrey then remembers that no loves and hopes of his are to enter -into the bargain at all, but in the earnestness of his love he has -forgotten to base his plea on other ground till now, when he bethinks -him and continues, with his voice not trembling now, save with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> -eagerness to prove how worthy of many dollars is the maiden of his -heart:</p> - -<p>"Young Mas'r, Dorcas prime woman—A1 woman, sa. Tall -gal, sir; long arms, strong, healthy, and can do a heap of work in -a day. She is one of de best rice hands on de whole plantation; -worth $1,200 easy, Mas'r, an' fus'rate bargain at that."</p> - -<p>The man seems touched by Jeffrey's last remarks, and bids him -fetch out his "gal, and let's see what she looks like."</p> - -<p>Jeffrey goes into the long room, and presently returns with Dorcas, -looking very sad and self-possessed, without a particle of embarrassment -at the trying position in which she is placed. She makes -the accustomed curtsy, and stands meekly with her hands clasped -across her bosom, waiting the result. The buyer regards her with -a critical eye, and growls in a low voice that the "gal has good -p'ints." Then he goes on to a more minute and careful examination -of her working abilities. He turns her around, makes her -stoop, and walk; and then he takes off her turban to look at her -head that no wound or disease be concealed by the gay handkerchief; -he looks at her teeth, and feels of her arms, and at last announces -himself pleased with the result of his observations, whereat -Jeffrey, who has stood near, trembling with eager hope, is overjoyed, -and he smiles for the first time. The buyer then crowns -Jeffrey's happiness by making a promise that he will buy her, if -the price isn't run up too high. And the two lovers step aside and -congratulate each other on their good fortune. But Dorcas is not -to be sold till the next day, and there are twenty-four long hours of -feverish expectation.</p> - -<p>Early next morning is Jeffrey alert, and, hat in hand, encouraged -to unusual freedom by the greatness of the stake for which he plays, -he addresses every buyer, and of all who will listen he begs the boon -of a word to be spoken to his new master to encourage him to buy -Dorcas. And all the long morning he speaks in his homely way with -all who know him, that they will intercede to save his sweetheart -from being sold away from him forever. No one has the heart to -deny a word of promise and encouragement to the poor fellow, and, -joyous with so much kindness, his hopes and spirits gradually rise -until he feels almost certain that the wish of heart will be accomplished. -And Dorcas, too, is smiling, for is not Jeffrey's happiness -her own?</p> - -<p>At last comes the trying moment, and Dorcas steps up on the -stand.</p> - -<p>But now a most unexpected feature in the drama is for the first -time unmasked: <i>Dorcas is not to be sold alone</i>, but with a family of -four others. Full of dismay, Jeffrey looks to his master, who -shakes his head, for, although he might be induced to buy Dorcas -alone, he has no use for the rest of the family. Jeffrey reads his -doom in his master's look, and turns away, the tears streaming -down his honest face.</p> - -<p>So Dorcas is sold, and her toiling life is to be spent in the cotton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -fields of South Carolina, while Jeffrey goes to the rice plantation of -the Great Swamp.</p> - -<p>And to-morrow, Jeffrey and Dorcas are to say their tearful farewell, -and go their separate ways in life, to meet no more as mortal -beings.</p> - -<p>But didn't Mr. Pierce Butler give them a silver dollar a-piece? -Who shall say there is no magnanimity in slave-owners?</p> - -<p>In another hour I see Dorcas in the long room, sitting motionless -as a statue, with her head covered with a shawl. And I see Jeffrey, -who goes to his new master, pulls off his hat and says: "I'se very -much obliged, Mas'r, to you for tryin' to help me. I knows you -would have done it if you could—thank you, Mas'r—thank you—but—its—berry—hard"—and -here the poor fellow breaks down -entirely and walks away, covering his face with his battered hat, -and sobbing like a very child.</p> - -<p>He is soon surrounded by a group of his colored friends, who, -with an instinctive delicacy most unlooked for, stand quiet, and -with uncovered heads, about him.</p> - -<p>Anson and Violet, chattels Nos. 111 and 112, were sold for $250 -each, both being old, and Anson being down in the catalogue as -"ruptured and as having one eye." Violet was sold as being sick. -Her disease was probably consumption, which supposition gave rise -to the following feeling conversation between two buyers:</p> - -<p>"Cheap gal, that, Major!"</p> - -<p>"Don't think so. They may talk about her being sick; it's no -easy sickness she's got. She's got consumption, and the man that -buys her'll have to be a doctrin' her all the time, and she'll die in -less than three months. I won't have anything to do with her—don't -want any half dead niggers about me."</p> - -<h3>THE MARKET VALUE OF AN EYE.</h3> - -<p>Guy, chattel No. 419, "a prime young man," sold for $1,280, -being without blemish; his age was twenty years, and he was altogether -a fine article. His next-door neighbor, Andrew, chattel No. -420, was his very counterpart in all marketable points, in size, age, -skill, and everything save that he had lost his right eye. Andrew -sold for only $1,040, from which we argue that the market value of -the right eye in the Southern country is $240.</p> - -<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MARRIAGE.</h3> - -<p>When the family of Mingo, consisting of his wife, two sons and a -daughter, was called for, it was announced by the auctioneer that -chattel No. 322, Dembo, the eldest son, aged 20, had the evening -before procured the services of a minister, and been joined in wedlock -to chattel No. 404, Frances, and that he should be compelled -to put up the bride and groom in one lot. They were called up, -and, as was to be expected, their appearance was the signal for a -volley of coarse jokes from the auctioneer, and of ribald remarks -from the surrounding crowd. The newly-married pair bore it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -bravely, although one refined gentleman took hold of Frances's -lips and pulled them apart, to see her age.</p> - -<p>This sort of thing it is that makes Northern blood boil, and -Northern fists clench with a laudable desire to hit somebody. It -was almost too much for endurance to stand and see those brutal -slave-drivers pushing the women about, pulling their lips apart with -their not too cleanly hands, and committing many another indecent -act, while the husbands, fathers and brothers of those women were -compelled to witness these things, without the power to resent -the outrage.</p> - -<p>Dembo and Frances were at last struck off for $1,320 each, and -went to spend their honey-moon on a cotton plantation in Alabama.</p> - -<h3>THE CASE OF JOSHUA'S MOLLY.</h3> - -<p>The auctioneer brought up Joshua's Molly and family. He -announced that Molly insisted that she was lame in her left foot, -and perversely would walk lame, although for his part, he did not -believe a word of it. He had caused her to be examined by an -eminent physician in Savannah, which medical light had declared -that Joshua's Molly was not lame, but was only shamming. However, -the gentlemen must judge for themselves and bid accordingly. -So Molly was put through her paces, and compelled to trot up and -down along the stage, to go up and down the steps, and to exercise -her feet in various ways, but always with the same result, the left -foot <i>would</i> be lame. She was finally sold for $695.</p> - -<p>Whether she really was lame or not no one knows but herself, -but it must be remembered that to a slave a lameness, or anything -that decreases his market value, is a thing to be rejoiced over. A -man in the prime of life, worth $1,600 or thereabouts, can have -little hope of ever being able, by any little savings of his own, to -purchase his liberty. But let him have a rupture, or lose a limb, -or sustain any other injury that renders him of much less service -to his owner, and reduces his value to $300 or $400, and he may -hope to accumulate that sum, and eventually to purchase his -liberty. Freedom without health is infinitely sweeter than health -without freedom.</p> - -<p>And so the Great Sale went on for two long days, during which -time there were sold 429 men, women and children. There were -436 announced to be sold, but a few were detained on the plantations -by sickness.</p> - -<p>At the close of the sale, on the last day, several baskets of champagne -were produced, and all were invited to partake, the wine -being at the expense of the broker, Mr. Bryan.</p> - -<p>The total amount of the sale foots up $303,850—the proceeds -of the first day being $161,480, and of the second day $142,370.</p> - -<p>The highest sum paid for any one family was given for Sally -Walker and her five children, who were mostly grown up. The -price was $6,180.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> -<p>The highest price paid for a single man was $1,750, which was -given for William, a "fair carpenter and caulker."</p> - -<p>The highest price paid for a woman was $1,250, which was given -for Jane, "cotton hand and house servant."</p> - -<p>The lowest price paid was for Anson and Violet, a gray-haired -couple, each having numbered more than fifty years; they brought -but $250 a-piece.</p> - -<h3>MR. PIERCE BUTLER GIVES HIS PEOPLE A DOLLAR A-PIECE.</h3> - -<p>Leaving the Race buildings, where the scenes we have described -took place, a crowd of negroes were seen gathered eagerly about a -white man. That man was Pierce M. Butler, of the free City of -Philadelphia, who was solacing the wounded hearts of the people he -had sold from their firesides and their homes, by doling out to them -small change at the rate of a dollar a-head. To every negro he had -sold, who presented his claim for the paltry pittance, he gave the -munificent stipend of one whole dollar, in specie; he being provided -with two canvas bags of 25 cent pieces, fresh from the mint, to give -an additional glitter to his generosity.</p> - -<p>And now come the scenes of the last partings—of the final separations -of those who were akin, or who had been such dear friends -from youth that no ties of kindred could bind them closer—of those -who were all in all to each other, and for whose bleeding hearts -there shall be no earthly comfort—the parting of parents and children, -of brother from brother, and the rending of sister from a sister's -bosom; and O! hardest, cruellest of all, the tearing asunder -of loving hearts, wedded in all save the one ceremony of the Church—these -scenes pass all description; it is not meet for pen to meddle -with tears so holy.</p> - -<p>As the last family stepped down from the block, the rain ceased, -for the first time in four days, the clouds broke away, and the soft -sunlight fell on the scene. The unhappy slaves had many of them -been already removed, and others were now departing with their -new masters.</p> - -<p>That night, not a steamer left that Southern port, not a train of -cars sped away from that cruel city, that did not bear each its own -sad burden of those unhappy ones, whose only crime is that they are -not strong and wise. Some of them maimed and wounded, some -scarred and gashed, by accident, or by the hand of ruthless drivers—all -sad and sorrowful as human hearts can be.</p> - -<p>But the stars shone out as brightly as if such things had never -been, the blushing fruit-trees poured their fragrance on the evening -air, and the scene was as calmly sweet and quiet as if Man had -never marred the glorious beauties of Earth by deeds of cruelty -and wrong.</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT BECAME OF THE SLAVES ON A GEORGIA PLANTATION? ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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