clotelle(有色女英雄)-第4节
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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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