Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/23

Rh but hard necessity would have compelled their master to part with them. They are worth the highest price, and he who purchases them may be sure that he increases the prosperity of his family.”

After this he beckoned to a woman among the blacks to come forward, and he gave her his hand to mount upon the platform, where she remained standing beside him. She was a tall, well-grown mulatto, with a handsome but sorrowful countenance, and a remarkably modest, noble demeanour. She bore on her arm a young, sleeping child, upon which, during the whole auction ceremonial, she kept her eyes immoveably riveted, with her head cast down. She wore a grey dress made to the throat, and a pale-yellow handkerchief, checked with brown, was tied round her head.

The auctioneer now began to laud this woman's good qualities, her skill, and her abilities, to the assembly. He praised her character, her good disposition, order, fidelity; her uncommon qualifications for taking care of a house; her piety, her talents, and remarked that the child which she bore at her breast, and which was to be sold with her, also increased her value. After this he shouted with a loud voice—“Now, gentlemen, how much for this very superior woman, this remarkable, &c., &c., and her child?”

He pointed with his out-stretched arm and fore-finger from one to another of the gentlemen who stood around, and first one and then another replied to his appeal, with a short silent nod, and all the while he continued in this style—

“Do you offer me five hundred dollars? Gentlemen, I am offered five hundred dollars for this superior woman and her child. It is a sum not to be thought of! She, with her child, is worth double that money. Five hundred and fifty, six hundred, six hundred and fifty, six hundred and sixty, six hundred and seventy. My good