登陆注册
14815300000003

第3章

As might have been expected, the day of sale brought an usually large number together to compete for the property to be sold.

Farmers, who make a business of raising slaves for the market, were there, and slave-traders, who make a business of buying human beings in the slave-raising States and taking them to the far South, were also in attendance. Men and women, too, who wished to purchase for their own use, had found their way to the slave sale.

In the midst of the throne. was one who felt a deeper interest in the result of the sale than any other of the bystanders. This was young Linwood. True to his promise, he was there with a blank bank-check in his pocket, awaiting with impatience to enter the list as a bidder for the beautiful slave.

It was indeed a heart-rending scene to witness the lamentations of these slaves, all of whom had grown up together on the old homestead of Mr. Graves, and who had been treated with great kindness by that gentleman, during his life. Now they were to be separated, and form new relations and companions. Such is the precarious condition of the slave. Even when with a good master, there is no certainty of his happiness in the future.

The less valuable slaves were first placed upon the auction-block, one after another, and sold to the highest bidder. Husbands and wives were separated with a degree of indifference that is unknown in any other relation in life. Brothers and sisters were tom from each other, and mothers saw their children for the last time on earth.

It was late in the day, and when the greatest number of persons were thought to be present, when Agnes and her daughters were brought out to the place of sale. The mother was first put upon the auction-block, and sold to a noted negro trader named Jennings. Marion was next ordered to ascend the stand, which she did with a trembling step, and was sold for $1200.

All eyes were now turned on Isabella, as she was led forward by the auctioneer. The appearance of the handsome quadroon caused a deep sensation among the crowd. There she stood, with a skin as fair as most white women, her features as beautifully regular as any of her sex of pure Anglo-Saxon blood, her long black hair done up in the neatest manner, her form tall and graceful, and her whole appearance indicating one superior to her condition.

The auctioneer commenced by saying that Miss Isabella was fit to deck the drawing-room of the finest mansion in Virginia.

"How much, gentlemen, for this real Albino!--fit fancy-girl for any one! She enjoys good health, and has a sweet temper. How much do you say? "

"Five hundred dollars."

"Only five hundred for such a girl as this? Gentlemen, she is worth a deal more than that sum. You certainly do not know the value of the article you are bidding on. Here, gentlemen, I hold in my hand a paper certifying that she has a good moral character."

"Seven hundred."

"Ah, gentlemen, that is something like. This paper also states that she is very intelligent."

"Eight hundred."

"She was first sprinkled, then immersed, and is now warranted to be a devoted Christian, and perfectly trustworthy."

"Nine hundred dollars."

"Nine hundred and fifty."

"One thousand."

"Eleven hundred."

Here the bidding came to a dead stand. The auctioneer stopped, looked around, and began in a rough manner to relate some anecdote connected with the sale of slaves, which he said had come under his own observation.

At this juncture the scene was indeed a most striking one. The laughing, joking, swearing, smoking, spitting, and talking, kept up a continual hum and confusion among the crowd, while the slave-girl stood with tearful eyes, looking alternately at her mother and sister and toward the young man whom she hoped would become her purchaser.

"The chastity of this girl," now continued the auctioneer, "is pure. She has never been from under her mother's care. She is virtuous, and as gentle as a dove."

The bids here took a fresh start, and went on until $1800 was reached. The auctioneer once more resorted to his jokes, and concluded by assuring the company that Isabella was not only pious, but that she could make an excellent prayer.

"Nineteen hundred dollars."

"Two thousand."

This was the last bid, and the quadroon girl was struck off, and became the property of Henry Linwood.

This was a Virginia slave-auction, at which the bones, sinews, blood, and nerves of a young girl of eighteen were sold for $500; her moral character for $200; her superior intellect for $100; the benefits supposed to accrue from her having been sprinkled and immersed, together with a warranty of her devoted Christianity, for $300; her ability to make a good prayer for $200; and her chastity for $700 more. This, too, in a city thronged with churches, whose tall spires look like so many signals pointing to. heaven, but whose ministers preach that slavery a God-ordained institution!

The slaves were speedily separated, and taken along by their respective masters. Jennings, the slave-speculator, who had purchased Agnes and her daughter Marion, with several of the other slaves, took them to the county prison, where he usually kept his human cattle after purchasing them, previous to starting for the New Orleans market.

Linwood had already provided a place for Isabella, to which she was taken. The most trying moment for her was when she took leave of her mother and sister. The "Good-by" of the slave is unlike that of any other class in the community. It is indeed a farewell forever. With tears streaming down their cheeks, they embraced and commanded each other to God, who is no respecter of persons, and before whom master and slave must one day appear.

同类推荐
  • 张三丰先生全集

    张三丰先生全集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 续词余丛话

    续词余丛话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 双节堂庸训

    双节堂庸训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 龙经

    龙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金箓大斋启盟仪

    金箓大斋启盟仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 杀道浮屠

    杀道浮屠

    挡我杀道者——死!PS:求意见,求评论,谢谢
  • 独望隐兰月

    独望隐兰月

    女主角夜幻璃10岁时穿越到了唐代的隐兰谷,成为了上古三皇的后代。夜幻璃即将18岁并准备成为隐兰谷的祭月(职位)时,猛然想起她的好友欧阳玉烟也穿越来了唐代。于是,好友之间的友谊驱使她瞒着所有人悄悄离开了隐兰谷,踏上了寻找好友的路程。在路上她会认识什么人、遇到什么事?她会寻来好友的心吗?敬请关注。(作者是学生党,不定时更文,更得慢请谅解)
  • 婚开二度,总裁引妻入局

    婚开二度,总裁引妻入局

    酒吧,她以失恋的富家千金身份和一个陌生男人亲吻,“帅哥,说服我!让你老牛吃嫩草,不要钱!”商景墨面无表情,夹着香烟,眯眸浅笑,第二天,昨晚那个酒吧里英俊的富商摇身一变竟然成了讲台上的教授!从此,她白天叫他“商老师”,晚上……要叫他‘老公’。有一天,商先生终于忍无可忍了,“苏荷,你他妈有种就给我在晚上叫老师,在课上叫老公!”苏小姐被吓的哭着求饶,“我错了,我错了商老……公!”苏荷永远不知道,商景墨喜欢她的时候,她只有十岁。一直在等她,等她长大,等她嫁给他,等她爱上他……
  • 查理九世之我们的秘密

    查理九世之我们的秘密

    夜深人静,月光安静的影子倒影在大海之上,有时还会荡起一丝波澜。一个女孩盲无目的的走着,眼神空洞。眼边泛红肿,脸上还有两道泪痕。看似很活泼开朗的女孩,貌似受了什么打击。静静地哭着。女孩慢慢的走着,走进海里,走进天堂,直到海水把女孩吞噬。夜深人静,月光安静的影子倒影在大海之上,有时还会荡起一丝波澜……
  • 以书入道

    以书入道

    经常看各种小说的叶秋笙穿越到了修真界,并得到了原身体主人的神奇毛笔,叶秋笙利用此毛笔开始了空间演绎小说的修真之路..“小凡大大,求快快更新,再不更新我就由粉转黑了!”“吼!太好看了,打赏一百灵石,从此由路转粉!”......偶得神奇毛笔,美女,丹药,法宝……想要什么画什么,噢,美女就算了,小美会杀了我的!
  • 七界无常

    七界无常

    我是一只鬼,因为某一次和同事聚众闹事结果很不幸被boss给开除了。干我们这行的,开除就意味着再也没法在阴阳两界混下去,所谓的开除其实也就是“做掉”的意思,而其名字也会在生死簿上永远划去,永远断了你轮回转世的念头。但也不知道阎王是真蠢还是真蠢,在明知道没了我的无常执行部就是坨翔的情况下,那傻帽居然先把我的名字给划了!按照一般的惯例,都是先确认对方死亡,再进行除名的;否则,就会变成——你要杀的人永远都死不了的局面。连名字都没了,你凭什么死呢?
  • 诛天圣主

    诛天圣主

    混沌初开,神魔乱世,一个沉睡万世的神秘少年睁开双眸,于沉睡中苏醒,是诸天的幸运,还是乱世的纷争降临。也许这一切都只是乱世的阴谋又或是一个凄凉的故事......
  • 情意绵绵【出版+全本】

    情意绵绵【出版+全本】

    【出版+全本】多年感情突生变故,江曼对他付出了十年,却没有抵得过那个女人的十天,他最终娶了富家小姐插足者为妻。在无血缘关系的大哥江斯年升级为人上人的无限风光之下,少有人知,他只是一个她父母从医院捡回并辛苦养大的弃婴。婚后的江斯年霸道偏执,隔三差五便带着新婚妻子去她的家里吃饭留宿,纠缠江曼。公司的一个谈单任务,正在疗情伤的江曼负责去接触那位37岁的项目投资人。从接下他高额提成的工装设计单,再到接下他本人的家装设计单,在这个合作的过程中江曼惊醒,她险些就把自己设计到这个极会调情的腹黑老男人怀里!!江曼不要陆存遇,她怕他的体温是毒,一沾蚀骨……【建筑装饰工程公司失恋女设计师江曼,因承接装修项目与37岁离异腹黑男客户发生的爱情故事】
  • 最新初中语文基础知识手册

    最新初中语文基础知识手册

    本书以新大纲为指导,以新教材和新考纲为依据,全面、准确、新颖地融合了初中语文基础知识的方方面面,具有较强的实用性的针对性,具有极高的资料性与工具性。本书可供平时学习使用,亦可供考前复习参考,是一本不可多得的语文基础知识必备工具书。
  • 黑蔷薇:复仇女神归来

    黑蔷薇:复仇女神归来

    十年前,韩家被林、穆、白三大家族血洗。韩映雪眼睁睁的看着自己的家族被血洗却无能为力,便立下血誓,要让林、穆、白三大家族的人给韩家陪葬!十年的时间,韩映雪已经变的非常强大了,现在她将要复仇了。