第 4 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-02-19 17:02      字数:9299
  throwing down his cards before his adversary。
  〃You   have   beaten   me;〃   said   Jones;   and   a   roar   of   laughter   followed
  from the other gentleman as poor Joe stepped down from the table。
  〃Well; I suppose I owe you half the nigger;〃 said Thompson; as he took
  hold of Joe and began examining his limbs。
  〃Yes;〃   replied   Jones;   〃he   is   half   yours。  Let   me   have   five   hundred
  dollars; and I will give you a bill of sale of the boy。〃
  〃Go back to your bed;〃 said Thompson to his chattel; 〃and remember
  that you now belong to me。〃
  The   poor   slave   wiped   the   tears   from   his   eyes;   as;   in   obedience;   he
  turned to leave the table。
  〃My father gave me that boy;〃 said Jones; as he took the money; 〃and I
  hope; Mr。 Thompson; that you will allow me to redeem him。〃
  〃Most certainly;   sir;〃   replied Thompson。          〃Whenever   you   hand   over
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  the cool thousand the negro is yours。〃
  Next morning; as the passengers were assembling in the cabin and on
  deck; and while the slaves were running about waiting on or looking for
  their   masters;   poor   Joe   was   seen   entering   his   new   master's   stateroom;
  boots in hand。
  〃Who do you belong to?〃 inquired a gentleman of an old negro; who
  passed along leading a fine Newfoundland dog which he had been feeding。
  〃When I went to sleep las' night;〃 replied the slave; 〃I 'longed to Massa
  Carr; but   he   bin gamblin'   all night;  an'   I   don't   know  who   I   'longs to   dis
  mornin'。〃
  Such is the uncertainty of a slave's life。           He goes to bed at night the
  pampered       servant   of  his  young     master;   with   whom     he   has   played   in
  childhood;      and    who     would     not   see    his   slave   abused     under     any
  consideration; and gets up in the morning the property of a man whom he
  has never before seen。
  To   behold   five   or   six   tables   in   the   saloon   of   a   steamer;   with   half   a
  dozen men playing cards at each; with money; pistols; and bowie…knives
  spread   in   splendid   confusion   before   them;   is   an   ordinary   thing   on   the
  Mississippi River。
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  CHAPTER V
  THE YOUNG MOTHER
  ON the fourth morning; the Patriot landed at Grand Gulf; a beautiful
  town on the left bank of the Mississippi。 Among the numerous passengers
  who came on board at Rodney was another slave…trader; with nine human
  chattels which he was conveying to the Southern market。 The passengers;
  both ladies and gentlemen; were startled at seeing among the new lot of
  slaves a woman so white as not to be distinguishable from the other white
  women on board。 She had in her arms a child so white that no one would
  suppose a drop of African blood flowed through its blue veins。
  No    one   could   behold   that   mother   with  her  helpless   babe;   without
  feeling    that  God   would    punish   the  oppressor。   There    she  sat;  with  an
  expressive and intellectual forehead; and a countenance full of dignity and
  heroism;  her   dark   golden   locks   rolled   back   from  her   almost   snow…white
  forehead and floating over her swelling bosom。              The tears that stood in
  her mild blue eyes showed that she was brooding over sorrows and wrongs
  that filled her bleeding heart。
  The hearts of the passers…by grew softer; while gazing upon that young
  mother as she pressed sweet kisses on the sad; smiling lips of the infant
  that lay in her lap。 The small; dimpled hands of the innocent creature were
  slyly hid in the warm bosom on which the little one nestled。 The blood of
  some proud Southerner; no doubt; flowed through the veins of that child。
  When      the   boat   arrived   at   Natches;   a   rather   good…looking;  genteel…
  appearing     man   came    on  board    to  purchase   a  servant。   This  individual
  introduced himself to Jennings as the Rev。 James Wilson。 The slave…trader
  conducted   the   preacher to the deck…cabin;   where he   kept   his   slaves;   and
  the man of God; after having some questions answered; selected Agnes as
  the one best suited to his service。
  It seemed as if poor Marion's heart would break when she found that
  she was to be separated from her mother。 The preacher; however; appeared
  to   be   but   little   moved   by   their   sorrow;   and   took   his   newly…purchased
  victim on shore。 Agnes begged him to buy her daughter; but he refused; on
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  the ground that he had no use for her。
  During the remainder of the passage; Marion wept bitterly。
  After a run of a few hours; the boat stopped at Baton Rouge; where an
  additional number of passengers were taken on board; among whom were
  a   number   of   persons   who   had   been   attending   the   races   at   that   place。
  Gambling and drinking were now the order of the day。
  The   next   morning;   at   ten   o'clock;   the   boat   arrived   at   new   Orleans;
  where the passengers went to their hotels and homes; and the negroes to
  the slave…pens。
  Lizzie;   the   white   slave…mother;   of   whom   we   have   already   spoken;
  created as much of a sensation by the fairness of her complexion and the
  alabaster whiteness of   her child;   when being   conveyed on   shore   at   New
  Orleans; as she had done when brought on board at Grand Gulf。                        Every
  one that saw her felt that slavery in the Southern States was not confined
  to   the   negro。   Many   had   been   taught   to   think   that   slavery   was   a   benefit
  rather than   an   injury;  and   those  who   were not   opposed   to   the institution
  before; now felt that if whites were to become its victims; it was time at
  least that some security should be thrown around the Anglo…Saxon to save
  him from this servile and degraded position。
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  CHAPTER VI。
  THE SLAVE…MARKET。
  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 any one not entirely devoid of the milk of human
  kindness。
  〃What are you wiping your eyes for?〃 inquired a far; red…faced man;
  with a white hat set on one side of his head and a cigar in his mouth; of a
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