按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
accrue from her having been sprinkled and immersed； together with a
warranty of her devoted Christianity； for 300； her ability to make a good
prayer for 200； and her chastity for 700 more。 This； too； in a city
thronged with churches； whose tall spires look like so many signals
pointing to heaven； but whose ministers preach that slavery is a God…
ordained institution！
The slaves were speedily separated； and taken along by their
respective masters。 Jennings； the slave…speculator； who had purchased
Agnes and her daughter Marion； with several of the other slaves； took
them to the county prison； where he usually kept his human cattle after
purchasing them； previous to starting for the New Orleans market。
Linwood had already provided a place for Isabella； to which she was
taken。 The most trying moment for her was when she took leave of her
mother and sister。 The 〃Good…by〃 of the slave is unlike that of any other
class in the community。 It is indeed a farewell forever。 With tears
streaming down their cheeks； they embraced and commended each other
to God； who is no respecter of persons； and before whom master and slave
must one day appear。
7
… Page 8…
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER III
THE SLAVE…SPECULATOR
DICK JENNINGS the slave…speculator； was one of the few Northern
men； who go to the South and throw aside their honest mode of obtaining
a living and resort to trading in human beings。 A more repulsive…looking
person could scarcely be found in any community of bad looking men。
Tall； lean and lank； with high cheek…bones； face much pitted with the
small…pox； gray eyes with red eyebrows； and sandy whiskers； he indeed
stood alone without mate or fellow in looks。 Jennings prided himself
upon what he called his goodness of heat； and was always speaking of his
humanity。 As many of the slaves whom he intended taking to the New
Orleans market had been raised in Richmond； and had relations there； he
determined to leave the city early in the morning； so as not to witness any
of the scenes so common on the departure of a slave…gang to the far South。
In this； he was most successful； for not even Isabella； who had called at
the prison several times to see her mother and sister； was aware of the time
that they were to leave。
The slave…trader started at early dawn； and was beyond the confines of
the city long before the citizens were out of their beds。 As a slave regards a
life on the sugar； cotton； or rice plantation as even worse than death； they
are ever on the watch for an opportunity to escape。 The trader； aware of
this； secures his victims in chains before he sets out on his journey。 On
this occasion； Jennings had the men chained in pairs； while the women
were allowed to go unfastened； but were closely watched。
After a march of eight days； the company arrived on the banks of the
Ohio River； where they took a steamer for the place of their destination。
Jennings had already advertised in the New Orleans papers； that he would
be there with a prime lot of able…bodied slaves； men and women； fit for
field…service； with a few extra ones calculated for house…servants；all
between the ages of fifteen and twenty…five years； but like most men who
make a business of speculating in human beings； he often bought many
who were far advanced in years； and would try to pass them off for five or
8
… Page 9…
CLOTELLE
six years younger than they were。 Few persons can arrive at anything
approaching the real age of the negro； by mere observation； unless they are
well acquainted with the race。 Therefore； the slave…trader frequently
carried out the deception with perfect impunity。
After the steamer had left the wharf and was fairly out on the bosom of
the broad Mississippi； the speculator called his servant Pompey to him；
and instructed him as to getting the negroes ready for market。 Among the
forty slaves that the trader had on this occasion； were some whose
appearance indicated that they had seen some years and had gone through
considerable service。 Their gray hair and whiskers at once pronounced
them to be above the ages set down in the trader's advertisement。 Pompey
had long been with Jennings； and understood his business well； and if he
did not take delight in the discharge of his duty； he did it at least with a
degree of alacrity； so that he might receive the approbation of his master。
Pomp； as he was usually called by the trader； was of real negro blood；
and would often say； when alluding to himself； 〃Dis nigger am no
counterfeit； he is de ginuine artikle。 Dis chile is none of your haf…and…haf；
dere is no bogus about him。〃
Pompey was of low stature； round face； and； like most of his race； had
a set of teeth； which； for whiteness and beauty； could not be surpassed； his
eyes were large； lips thick； and hair short and woolly。 Pompey had been
with Jennings so long； and had seen so much of buying and selling of his
fellow…creatures； that he appeared perfectly indifferent to the heart…rending
scenes which daily occurred in his presence。 Such is the force of habit：
〃Vice is a monster of such frightful mien； That to be
hated； needs but to be seen； But seen too oft； familiar with its face；
We first endure； then pity； then embrace。〃
It was on the second day of the steamer's voyage； that Pompey selected
five of the oldest slaves； took them into a room by themselves； and
commenced preparing them for the market。
〃Now；〃 said he； addressing himself to the company； 〃I is de chap dat is
to get you ready for de Orleans market； so dat you will bring marser a
good price。 How old is you？〃 addressing himself to a man not less than
forty。
9
… Page 10…
CLOTELLE
〃If I live to see next sweet…potato…digging time； I shall be either forty
or forty…five； I don't know which。〃
〃Dat may be；〃 replied Pompey； 〃but now you is only thirty years old；
dat's what marser says you is to be。〃
〃I know I is more den dat；〃 responded the