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                        CLOTELLE 



CLOTELLE 



 By William Wells Brown 



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                                        CLOTELLE 



                                CHAPTER I 



                       THE SOUTHERN SOCIAL CIRCLE 

       FOR many years the South has been noted for its beautiful Quadroon 

women。 Bottles of ink; and reams of paper; have been used to portray the 

〃finely…cut and   well…moulded   features;〃   the   〃silken   curls;〃   the   〃dark   and 

brilliant    eyes;〃   the   〃splendid     forms;〃    the   〃fascinating     smiles;〃   and 

〃accomplished manners〃   of these  impassioned and voluptuous   daughters 

of the two   races;the unlawful   product of   the crime   of human   bondage。 

When   we   take   into   consideration   the   fact   that   no   safeguard    was   ever 

thrown around virtue; and no inducement held out to slave…women to be 

pure    and   chaste;   we   will  not   be  surprised    when    told  that  immorality 

pervades   the   domestic   circle   in   the   cities   and   towns   of   the   South   to   an 

extent    unknown      in  the   Northern     States。   Many      a  planter's   wife   has 

dragged   out   a   miserable   existence;   with   an   aching   heart;   at   seeing   her 

place   in   the   husband's   affections   usurped   by   the   unadorned   beauty   and 

captivating smiles of her waiting…maid。 Indeed; the greater portion of the 

colored women; in the days of slavery; had no greater aspiration than that 

of becoming the finely…dressed mistress of some white man。 At the negro 

balls and parties; that used to be so frequently given; this class of women 

generally made the most splendid appearance。 

     A  few   years   ago;   among   the   many   slave…women   of   Richmond;   Va。; 

who hired their time of their masters; was Agnes; a mulatto owned by John 

Graves; Esq。; and who might be heard boasting that she was the daughter 

of an American Senator。 Although nearly forty years of age at the time of 

which   we   write; Agnes   was   still   exceedingly   handsome。   More   than   half 

white; with long black hair and deep blue eyes; no one felt like disputing 

with   her   when   she   urged   her   claim   to   her   relationship   with   the  Anglo… 

Saxon。 In her younger days; Agnes had been a housekeeper for a young 

slave…holder; and in sustaining this relation had become the mother of two 

daughters。   After   being   cast   aside   by   this   young   man;   the   slave…woman 

betook herself to the business of a laundress; and was considered to be the 

most tasteful woman in Richmond at her vocation。 



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                                         CLOTELLE 



     Isabella   and   Marion;   the   two   daughters   of Agnes;   resided   with   their 

mother;   and   gave   her   what   aid   they   could   in   her   business。   The   mother; 

however;   was   very   choice   of   her   daughters;   and   would   allow   them   to 

perform   no   labor   that   would   militate   against   their   lady…like   appearance。 

Agnes early resolved to bring up her daughters as ladies; as she termed it。 

     As the   girls grew  older;  the mother   had to pay  a stipulated   price   for 

them per month。         Her notoriety as a laundress of the first class enabled 

her to put an extra charge upon the linen that passed through her hands; 

and although she imposed little or no work upon her daughters; she was 

enabled to live in comparative luxury and have her daughters dressed to 

attract attention; especially at the negro balls and parties。 

     Although   the   term   〃negro   ball〃   is   applied   to   these   gatherings;   yet   a 

large   portion   of   the   men   who   attend   them   are   whites。   Negro   balls   and 

parties    in  the  Southern     States;   especially   in   the   cities  and   towns;    are 

usually made up of quadroon women; a few negro men; and any number 

of white gentlemen。 These are gatherings of the most democratic character。 

Bankers;   merchants;   lawyers;   doctors;   and   their   clerks   and   students;   all 

take part in these social assemblies upon terms of perfect equality。                     The 

father and son not unfrequently meet and dance *vis a vis* at a negro ball。 

     It was at one of these parties that Henry Linwood; the son of a wealthy 

and retired gentleman of Richmond;  was first introduced to Isabella;  the 

oldest    daughter     of   Agnes。     The     young     man    had   just   returned    from 

Harvard College; where he had spent the previous five years。 Isabella was 

in her eighteenth   year; and   was admitted   by all who knew her to be   the 

handsomest girl; colored or white; in the city。 On this occasion; she was 

attired in a sky…blue silk dress; with deep black lace flounces; and bertha 

of the same。 On her well…moulded arms she wore massive gold bracelets; 

while her rich black hair was arranged at the back in broad basket plaits; 

ornamented        with    pearls;   and    the   front   in   the   French    style   (*a    la 

Imperatrice*); which suited her classic face to perfection。 

     Marion was scarcely less richly dressed than her sister。 

     Henry   Linwood   paid   great   attention   to   Isabella;   which   was   looked 

upon   with   gratification   by   her   mother;   and   became   a   matter   of   general 

conversation   with   all   present。      Of   course;   the   young   man   escorted   the 



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                                        CLOTELLE 



beautiful quadroon home that evening; and became the favorite visitor at 

the house of Agnes。 

     It was on a beautiful moonlight night in the month of August; when all 

who reside in tropical climates are eagerly gasping for a breath of fresh air; 

that Henry Linwood was in the garden which surrounded Agnes' cottage; 

with the young quadroon at his side。 He drew from his pocket a newspaper 

wet from the press; and read the following advertisement: 

     NOTICE。Seventy…nine negroes will be offered for sale on Monday; 

September 10; at 12 o'clock; being the entire stock of the late John Graves。 

The    negroes    are   in  excellent   condition;    and   all  warranted    against   the 

common   vices。   Among   them   are   several   mechanics;   able…bodied   field… 

hands; plough…boys; and women with children; some of them very prolific; 

affording a rare opportunity for any one who wishes to raise a strong and 

healthy lot of servants for their own use。 Also several mulatto girls of rare 

personal qualities; two of these very superior。 

     Among the above slaves advertised for sale were Agnes and her two 

daughters。      Ere   young     Linwood      left  the  quadroon      that   evening;    he 

promised her that he would become her purchaser; and make her free and 

her own mistress。 

     Mr。 Graves had long been considered not only an excellent and upright 

citizen of the first standing among the whites; but even the slaves regarded 

him as one of the kindest of masters。 Having inherited his slaves with the 

rest of his property; he became possessed of them without any consultation 

or   wish   of   his   own。  He   would   neither   buy   nor   sell   slaves;   and   was 

exceedingly careful; in letting them out; that they did not find oppressive 

and    tyrannical    masters。    No   slave   speculator     ever   dared   to  cross   the 

threshold     of  this  planter   of   the  Old   Dominion。       He    was    a  constant 

attendant      upon    religious    worship;     and   was    noted    for   his   general 

benevolence。   The   American   Bible   Society;   the   American   Tract   Society; 

and the cause of the Foreign Missions; found in him a liberal friend。 He 

was always anxious that his slaves should appear well on the Sabbath; and 

have an opportunity of hearing the word of God。 



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                                        CLOTELLE 



                               CHAPTER II 



                                  THE NEGRO SALE 

       AS might have been expected; the day of sale brought an unusually 

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   throng   was   one   who   felt   a   deeper   interest   in   the 

result   of   the  sa

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