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.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27