clotelle(有色女英雄)-第4部分
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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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woman who sat on one of the benches。
〃Because I left my man behind。〃
〃Oh； if I buy you； I will furnish you with a better man than you left。
I've got lots of young bucks on my farm。〃
〃I don't want and never will have another man；〃 replied the woman。
〃What's you name？〃 asked a man in a straw hat of a tall negro who
stood with his arms folded across his breast； leaning against the wall。
〃My name is Aaron； sar。〃
〃How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…five。〃
〃Where were you raised？〃
〃In old Virginny； sar。〃
〃How many men have owned you？〃
〃Four。〃
〃Do you enjoy good health？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your first owner？〃
〃Twenty years。〃
〃Did you ever run away？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Did you ever strike your master？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Were you ever whipped much？〃
〃No； sar； I s'pose I didn't desarve it； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your second master？〃
〃Ten years； sar。〃
〃Have you a good appetite？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃Can you eat your allowance？〃
〃Yes； sar；when I can get it。〃
〃Where were you employed in Virginia？〃
〃I worked de tobacker fiel'。〃
〃In the tobacco field； eh？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
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〃How old did you say you was？〃
〃Twenty…five； sar； nex' sweet…'tater…diggin' time。〃
〃I am a cotton…planter； and if I buy you； you will have to work in the
cotton…field。 My men pick one hundred and fifty pounds a day； and the
women one hundred and forty pounds； and those who fail to perform their
task receive five stripes for each pound that is wanting。 Now； do you
think you could keep up with the rest of the hands？〃
〃I don't know； sar； but I 'specs I'd have to。〃
〃How long did you live with your third master？〃
〃Three years； sar。〃
〃Why； that makes you thirty…three。 I thought you told me you were
only twenty…five？〃
Aaron now looked first at the planter； then at the trader； and seemed
perfectly bewildered。 He had forgotten the lesson given him by Pompey
relative to his age； and the planter's circuitous questionsdoubtless to find
out the slave's real age had thrown the negro off his guard。
〃I must see you back； so as to know how much you have been
whipped； before I think of buying。〃
Pompey； who had been standing by during the examination； thought
that his services were now required； and； stepping forth with a degree of
officiousness； said to Aaron；
〃Don't you hear de gemman tell you he wants to 'zamin you。 Cum；
unharness yo'seff； ole boy； and don't be standin' dar。〃
Aaron was soon examined； and pronounced 〃sound；〃 yet the
conflicting statement about his age was not satisfactory。
Fortunately for Marion； she was spared the pain of undergoing such an
examination。 Mr。 Cardney； a teller in one of the banks； had just been
married； and wanted a maid…servant for his wife； and； passing through the
market in the early part of the day； was pleased with the young slave's
appearance； and his dwelling the quadroon found a much better home than
often falls to the lot of a slave sold in the New Orleans market。
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CHAPTER VII
THE SLAVE…HOLDING PARSON
THE Rev。 James Wilson was a native of the State of Connecticut；
where he was educated for the ministry in the Methodist persuasion。 His
father was
