登陆注册
14815300000007

第7章

NOT far from Canal Street, in the city of New Orleans, stands a large two-story, flat building, surrounded by a stone wall some twelve feet high, the top of which is covered with bits of glass, and so constructed as to prevent even the possibility of any one's passing over it without sustaining great injury. Many of the rooms in this building resemble the cells of a prison, and in a small apartment near the "office" are to be seen any number of iron collars, hobbles, handcuffs, thumbscrews, cowhides, chains, gags, and yokes.

A back-yard, enclosed by a high wall, looks something like the playground attached to one of our large New England schools, in which are rows of benches and swings. Attached to the back premises is a good-sized kitchen, where, at the time of which we write, two old negresses were at work, stewing, boiling, and baking, and occasionally wiping the perspiration from their furrowed and swarthy brows.

The slave-trader, Jennings, on his arrival at New Orleans, took up his quarters here with his gang of human cattle, and the morning after, at 10 o'clock, they were exhibited for sale. First of all came the beautiful Marion, whose pale countenance and dejected look told how many sad hours she had passed since parting with her mother at Natchez. There, too, was a poor woman who had been separated from her husband; and another woman, whose looks and manners were expressive of deep anguish, sat by her side. There was "Uncle Jeems," with his whiskers off, his face shaven clean, and the gray hairs plucked out ready to be sold for ten years younger than he was. Toby was also there, with his face shaven and greased, ready for inspection.

The examination commenced, and was carried on in such a manner as to shock the feelings of anyone not entirely devoid of the milk of human kindness.

"What are you wiping your eyes for?" inquired a fat, red-faced man, with a white hat set on one side of his head and a cigar in his mouth, of a woman who sat on one of the benches.

"Because I left my man behind."

"Oh, if I buy you, I will furnish you with a better man than you left. I've got lots of young bucks on my farm."

"I don't want and never will have another man," replied the woman.

"What's your name?" asked a man in a straw hat of a tall negro who stood with his arms folded across his breast, leaning against the wall.

"My name is Aaron, sar."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-five."

"Where were you raised?"

"In ole Virginny, sar."

"How many men have owned you?"

"Four."

"Do you enjoy good health?"

"Yes, sar."

"How long did you live with your first owner?"

"Twenty years."

"Did you ever run away?"

"No, sar."

"Did you ever strike your master?"

"No, sar."

"Were you ever whipped much?"

"No, sar; I s'pose I didn't deserve it, sar."

"How long did you live with your second master?"

"Ten years, sar."

"Have you a good appetite?"

"Yes, sar."

"Can you eat your allowance?"

"Yes, sar,--when I can get it."

"Where were you employed in Virginia?"

"I worked de tobacker fiel'."

"In the tobacco field, eh?"

"Yes, sar."

"How old did you say you was?"

"Twenty-five, sar, nex' sweet-'tater-diggin' time."

"I am a cotton-planter, and if I buy you, you will have to work in the cotton-field. My men pick one hundred and fifty pounds a day, and the women one hundred and forty pounds; and those who fail to perform their task receive five stripes for each pound that is wanting. Now, do you think you could keep up with the rest of the hands?"

"I' don't know sar but I 'specs I'd have to."

"How long did you live with your third master?"

"Three years, sar."

"Why, that makes you thirty-three. I thought you told me you were only twenty-five?"

Aaron now looked first at the planter, then at the trader, and seemed perfectly bewildered. He had forgotten the lesson given him by Pompey relative to his age; and the planter's circuitous questions--doubtless to find out the slave's real age--had thrown the negro off his guard.

"I must see your back, so as to know how much you have been whipped, before I think of buying."

Pompey, who had been standing by during the examination, thought that his services were now required, and, stepping forth with a degree of officiousness, said to Aaron,--"Don't you hear de gemman tell you he wants to 'zamin you. Cum, unharness yo'seff, ole boy, and don't be standin' dar."

Aaron was soon examined, and pronounced "sound;" yet the conflicting statement about his age was not satisfactory.

Fortunately for Marion, she was spared the pain of undergoing such an examination. Mr. Cardney, a teller in one of the banks, had just been married, and wanted a maid-servant for his wife, and, passing through the market in the early part of the day, was pleased with the young slave's appearance, and his dwelling the quadroon found a much better home than often falls to the lot of a slave sold in the New Orleans market.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 璟世相依:美人为将

    璟世相依:美人为将

    一个21世纪军区医院天才级教授突然接到进入特种部队训练通知?终于脱了坑可以去执行任务了居然被一枪爆头!“我擦嘞!”穿越架空古代被逼亲?“你个篮子!老娘要参军!”女扮男装混军营,被开朗王爷撞见骂腹黑皇上?“哎呀你放心!我不会说出去的!”“谁在骂我?听话的话就既往不咎!”“滚蛋!老娘这不收面首,我要保这天下太平!”
  • 陌路凡天

    陌路凡天

    皇权纷争,殃殃汤汤,雏子年幼,遗携江湖。待到林昭阳成人后决心复仇,一路坎坷颠簸只为提升自己,弱肉强食,适者生存!然而往时落败皇子一心复辟,江湖邪教野心勃发,异域之地腐化滋生,互相交织盘错...棋盘紊乱,未来难测。奈何好友身死,现实残酷,本心被焚,一念成魔,只为杀尽天下不公,天弃吾吾宁成魔!不垢不净,不生不灭!
  • 2012,玛雅预言

    2012,玛雅预言

    预言真的会发生吗?如果发生,人类将要如何应对?现在的科学手段,是否能起到足够应对的措施?在预言应验之前,人们应当选择何种姿态面对?在本书中,这些都将一一为读者解答。
  • 经络养生保健操

    经络养生保健操

    作者根据“上工治未病”的中医治病思路,以养生和预防保健为目的,特别编排了一套经络养生保健操(随书附有配套光盘)。以图解的形式系统讲解了经络的作用、十二经脉和奇经八脉的循行主治功效,重点介绍了经络保健操分解动作及相关穴位。本书推荐的保健操在社区深受欢迎,适合社会大众、中医爱好者特别是中老年人士阅读学习、模仿操练。
  • 鬼猫妖娆

    鬼猫妖娆

    前世的自己被父亲丢掉,又被组织抓去,“没事!坚持下去,我还要带妈妈离开那噩梦般的家,忍过去就好了!”她对自己说着,忍过一个又一个的残酷训练,在五年后,终于有了自己的代号,黑猫,如猫一样矫健,在黑夜如同隐形的杀手,原本以为站在了出众之地,便可以快速离去,却在出来后发现,妈。。早在自己被丢出来的那一年死去,谁知已经这样了,老天还作弄她,在最后一次任务时,被自己的朋友背叛。。再次睁开眼。。。自己连人都不是了!!,这。。这毛茸茸的猫是她妈!!我还有个小弟!!WHAT!!!在一天,那个白妈咪居然变成女人??!!好吧。。这是个妖的世界,那就让我看看这世界的顶峰吧~
  • 项前进向前进

    项前进向前进

    续写《重返20岁》,前进乐队成功之后的故事和主唱项前进与主Rap的新成员发生的爱情故事,希望大家支持一下!
  • 冥王的小妖后

    冥王的小妖后

    她在前世时就有一个被认为不祥的胎记,从小长于孤儿院,死于十八岁生日当天。化为鬼魂投胎的她,难改生前的调皮捣蛋本性,在冥界也闯下了一次大祸,经历了一场啼笑皆非的闹剧,她进错了轮回。得感谢上苍如此厚爱,给了她一对绝世的爹娘,从小研毒制药,玩劣的心性更是有增无减。配毒是她的兴趣,施毒是她的乐趣,而看着令自己不爽的人因毒而痛苦,则是她至高无上的享受。她也许是妖,自遇上了那个犹如地狱般的人之后,她就立誓要化身为妖。
  • 庐隐精品选

    庐隐精品选

    庐隐是我国“五四”时期著名的女作家,与著名作家冰心、林徽因齐名,誉为“福州三大才女”。她的作品具有浓厚的自传性质、情感宣泄色彩和艺术感染力。她借助日记、书信等形式,直接宣示自己对于社会与人生的思索,传达自己在心理苦闷中的彷徨与叹息,具有一种沉郁、阴柔之美。《庐隐精品选》是其散文、小说、书信的作品精选集。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 正义蜜蜂侠

    正义蜜蜂侠

    行走都市,我们只为伸张正义。但是正义真的是正义吗?人们嘴里说的正义和真正的正义是一样的吗?社会的黑暗,只有接触过的人才会明白,什么是所谓的正义,而正义在林燕青眼里,又是什么样的……