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Well, Eliza? said her master, as she stopped and looked hesitatingly at him. I was looking for Harry, please, sir; and the boy bounded toward her, showing his spoils, which he had gathered in the skirt of his robe. Well, take him away then, said Mr. Shelby; and hastily she withdrew, carrying the child on her arm. By Jupiter, said the trader, turning to him in admiration, theres an article, now! You might make your fortune on that ar gal in Orleans, any day. Ive seen over a thousand, in my day, paid down for gals not a bit handsomer. I dont want to make my fortune on her, said Mr. Shelby, dryly; and, seeking to turn the conversation, he uncorked a bottle of fresh wine, and asked his companions opinion of it. Capital, sir,first chop! said the trader; then turning, and slapping his hand familiarly on Shelbys shoulder, he added Come, how will you trade about the gal?what shall I say for herwhatll you take? Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold, said Shelby. My wife would not part with her for her weight in gold. Ay, ay! women always say such things, cause they hant no sort of calculation. Just show em how many watches, feathers, and trinkets, ones weight in gold would buy, and that alters the case, I reckon. I tell you, Haley, this must not be spoken of; I say no, and I mean no, said Shelby, decidedly. Well, youll let me have the boy, though, said the trader; you must own Ive come down pretty handsomely for him. What on earth can you want with the child? said Shelby. Why, Ive got a friend thats going into this yer branch of the businesswants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy articles entirelysell for waiters, and so on, to rich uns, that can pay for handsome uns. It sets off one of yer great placesa real handsome boy to open door, wait, and tend. They fetch a good sum; and this little devil is such a comical, musical concern, hes just the article! I would rather not sell him, said Mr. Shelby, thoughtfully; the fact is, sir, Im a humane man, and I hate to take the boy from his mother, sir. O, you do?La! yessomething of that ar natur. I understand, perfectly. It is mighty onpleasant getting on with women, sometimes, I alays hates these yer screechin, screamin times. They are mighty onpleasant; but, as I manages business, I generally avoids em, sir. Now, what if you get the girl off for a day, or a week, or so; then the things done quietly,all over before she comes home. Your wife might get her some ear- rings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make up with her. Im afraid not. Lor bless ye, yes! These critters aint like white folks, you know; they gets over things, only manage right. Now, they say, said Haley, assuming a candid and confidential air, that this kind o trade is hardening to the feelings; but I never found it so. Fact is, I never could do things up the way some fellers manage the business. Ive seen em as would pull a womans child out of her arms, and set him up to sell, and she screechin like mad all the time;very bad policydamages the articlemakes em quite unfit for service sometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort o handling. The fellow that was trading for her didnt want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort, when her blood was up. I tell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to think of t; and when they carried off the child, and |
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