CHAPTER XXVI. THE NEGRO SALE. THE next morning I rose early, and strolled out to the negro quarters. At the distance of about a hundred yards from the mansion, the sun was touching the tops of about thirty canvas camps, and, near them, large numbers of horses, "all saddled and bridled," were picketed among the trees. Some dozens of "natives" were littered around, asleep on the ground; and here and there a barelegged, barefooted woman was lying beside a man on a spring" mattrass, of the kind that is supposed to have been patented in Paradise. แ It was a beautiful morning in May, and one would have thought, from the appearance of the motley collection, that the whole people had "come up to worship, the Lord in their tents," after the manner of the Israelites. The rich planter, the small farmer, the "white trash"-all classes, had gathered to the negro sale, like crows to a feast of carrion. A few half-awake, half-sober, russet-clad, bewhiskered "gentry," were lighting fires under huge iron pots; but the larger portion of the "congregation" was still wrapped in slumber. Passing them, I knocked at the door of Ally's cabin. The family was already astir, and the various members gave me a greeting that cannot be bought now anywhere with a handful of "greenbacks.” Boss Joe, Aggy, and old Deborah had arrived, and were quartered with Ally. "An' 'ou wusn't a gwine ter leff massa Preston's own chile be sole widout bein' yere; wus 'ou, massa Kirke?" cried Dinah, her face beaming all over with pleasurable emotion. "No, Dinah; and I've come here so early to tell you how much I think of you. A woman that can handle four white men as you did, is fit to head an army." "Lor' bress 'ou, massa! dat wusn't nuffin'. I could handle a whole meetin'-house full ob sech as dem." แ Joe, you know your master's plans, I suppose?" “Yas, massa Kirke; he mean ter buy all de folks." "But don't you want to borrow some to help out your pile ?" I'se got "I'se 'bliged ter you, sar; but I reckon I doan't. nigh on ter free thousan', an' nary one'll pay more'n dat fur a ole man an' two ole wimmin." "I hope not." I remained there for a half hour, and then strolled back to the mansion. On the lawn, at the side of the house, was the auction block-the carpenter's bench which had officiated at Ally's wedding. It was approached by a flight of steps, and at one end was the salesman's stand-a high stool, in front of which was a small portable desk supported on stakes driven into the ground. Near the block was a booth fitted up for the special accommodation of thirsty buyers. The proprietor was just opening his own and his establishment's *peepers, and I looked in upon him. His red, bloated visage seemed familiar to me. Perceiving me, he said: "How is ye, stranger? Hev a eye-opener?" "I reckon not, old fellow; but I ought to know you. Your name is Tom." "Thomas, stranger; but Tom, fur short." "Well, Thomas, I thought you had taken your last drink. I saw your store was closed, as I came along." "Yas; th' durned 'ristocrats driv me out uv thet nigh a yar ago." "And where are you now?" "Up ter Trenton. I'm doin' right smart thar. Me an' Mulock-thet used ter b'long yere is in partenship. whar moight ye hev seed me, stranger?" But "At your store, over ten years since. I bought a woman there. You were having a turkey match at the time." แ 'Oh, yas! I 'call ye now. An' th' pore gal's dead! Thet d-d Yankee 'ooman shud pull hemp fur thet.” "Yes; but the devil seldom gets his due in this world." 'Thet ar's a fact, stranger. Come, hev a drink; I woan't ax ye a red." "No, excuse me, Tom; it's before breakfast;" and, walking off, I entered the mansion. Shortly after breakfast the people from the neighboring plantations began to gather to the sale, and, by the hour appointed for it to commence, about five hundred men and women had collected on the ground. Some were on horseback, some in carriages, but the majority were seated on the grass, or on benches improvised for the occasion. parents and children, grand A few minutes before the "exercises" commenced, the negroes were marched upon the lawn. No seats had been provided for them, and they huddled together inside a small area staked off for their reception. They were of all colors and ages. Husbands and wives, parents and grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins, gathered in little family groups, and breathlessly awaited the stroke of the hammer which was to decide their destiny. They were all clad in their Sunday clothes, and looked clean and tidy; but on every face except Joe's was depicted an illdefined feeling of dread and consternation. Husbands held their wives in their arms, and mothers hugged their children to their bosoms, as if they might soon part forever; but when old Joe passed among them, saying a low word to this one and the other, their cloudy visages brightened, and a heavy load seemed to roll off their hearts. Joe was as radiant as a summer morning, and walked about with a quiet dignity and unconcern that might have led one to think him the owner of the entire "invoice of chattels." As the auctioneer-a spruce importation from Newbernmounted the bench, a splendid carriage, drawn by two magnifi cent grays, and driven by a darky in livery, made its way through the crowd, and drew up opposite the stand. In it were Dawsey and his wife! The salesman's hammer came down. "Gentlemen and ladies," he said, "the sale has commenced. I am about to offer you one hundred and sixty-one likely negro men and women, belonging to the estate of Robert Preston, Esq., deceased. Each one will be particularly described when put up, and all will be warranted as represented. They will be sold in families; that is, husbands and wives, and parents and young children, will not be separated. The terms are, one quarter cash, the balance in one year, secured by an approved indorsed note. Persons having claims against the estate will be allowed to pay by authenticated accounts and duebills. The first lot I shall offer you will be the mulatto man Joe and his wife Agnes. Joe is known through all this region as a negro of uncommon worth and intelligence. He is " Here he was interrupted by Dawsey, who exclaimed, in a hurried manner: "I came here expecting this sale would be conducted according to custom-that each hand would be put up separately. I protest against this innovation, Mr. Auctioneer." The auctioneer made no reply; but the administrator, a small, self-possessed man, mounted the bench, and said: "Sir, I regulate this sale. If you are not satisfied with its conditions, you are not obliged to bid." Dawsey made a passionate reply. In the midst of it, Joe sprang upon the stand, and, in a clear, determined voice, called out: "Mr. Sheriff, do your duty." A large, powerful man, in blue coat and brass buttons, stepped to the side of the carriage, and, coolly opening the door, said: “Catherine Dawsey, you are charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of Phyllis Preston. I arrest you. Please come with me." "By, sir!" cried Dawsey; "this lady is my wife!" "It makes no difference whose wife she is, sir. She is my prisoner." LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORN |