clotelle(有色女英雄)-第2节
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！
result of the sale than any other of the bystanders。 This was young
Linwood。 True to his promise； he was there with a blank bank…check in
his pocket； awaiting with impatience to enter the list as a bidder for the
beautiful slave。
It was indeed a heart…rending scene to witness the lamentations of
these slaves； all of whom had grown up together on the old homestead of
Mr。 Graves； and who had been treated with great kindness by that
gentleman； during his life。 Now they were to be separated； and form new
relations and companions。 Such is the precarious condition of the slave。
Even when with a good master； there is not certainty of his happiness in
the future。
The less valuable slaves were first placed upon the auction…block； one
after another； and sold to the highest bidder。 Husbands and wives were
separated with a degree of indifference that is unknown in any other
relation in life。 Brothers and sisters were torn from each other； and
mothers saw their children for the last time on earth。
It was late in the day； and when the greatest number of persons were
thought to be present； when Agnes and her daughters were brought out to
the place of sale。 The mother was first put upon the auction…block； and
sold to a noted negro trader named Jennings。 Marion was next ordered to
ascend the stand； which she did with a trembling step； and was sold for
1200。
5
… Page 6…
CLOTELLE
All eyes were now turned on Isabella； as she was led forward by the
auctioneer。 The appearance of the handsome quadroon caused a deep
sensation among the crowd。 There she stood； with a skin as fair as most
white women； her features as beautifully regular as any of her sex of pure
Anglo…Saxon blood； her long black hair done up in the neatest manner； her
form tall and graceful； and her whole appearance indicating one superior
to her condition。
The auctioneer commenced by saying that Miss Isabella was fit to
deck the drawing…room of the finest mansion in Virginia。
〃How much； gentlemen； for this real Albino！fit fancy…girl for any one！
She enjoys good health； and has a sweet temper。 How much do you
say？〃
〃Five hundred dollars。〃
〃Only five hundred for such a girl as this？ Gentlemen； she is worth a
deal more than that sum。 You certainly do not know the value of the
article you are bidding on。 Here； gentlemen； I hold in my hand a paper
certifying that she has a good moral character。〃
〃Seven hundred。〃
〃Ah； gentlemen； that is something life。 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
6
… Page 7…
CLOTELLE
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。
This was a Virginia slave…auction； at which the bones； sinews； blood；
and nerves of a young girl of eighteen were sold for 500； her moral
character for 200； her superior intellect for 100； the benefits supposed to
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
