Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/149

Rh In a few days I again saw this same lady in Camp-street, buying and selling bales of cotton; at another time I saw her in a wholesale store, buying sacks of coffee, and speculating on them. There was a family in the hotel, from off the coast, who had with them a very pretty maid, and a very good hair-dresser. She made her dissatisfied with her owner, that she might purchase her; she told the girl that so soon as she would earn what she paid for her, besides fixing her two daughter's heads, she would give her her freedom. The maid brought home forty dollars every month, until she had nearly paid for herself; this woman then turned round and sold her for very near as much again as she paid for her—saying nothing of what the girl had paid her. She then left the hotel and went traveling. I did not see her again for a long time, but frequently heard of her.

On one occasion I saw a very nice free girl. She proposed to this girl to sell her, and divide the money between them, and then she was to kick up a row and swear she was free. I have seen many ladies, but never one that loved money as she did. Notwithstanding all her improper conduct, her daughters kept a fair position in society, more particularly with gentlemen.

Several seasons passed away, and I did not see or hear of this woman, till one season, on leaving Washington City, she happened to be on the same train, but not in the same car, with me. Sitting in the same seat with her, was a green, country woman. On my passing through the cars, I saw her in deep conversation with this woman, and knew immediately she was striking up some trade; so I took a seat in the same car she was in, to notice her maneuvers. 13