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locked her up, she jest went ravin mad, and died in a week. Clear waste, sir, of a thousand dollars, just for want of management,theres where t is. Its always best to do the humane thing, sir; thats been my experience. And the trader leaned back in his chair, and folded his arm, with an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himself a second Wilberforce. The subject appeared to interest the gentleman deeply; for while Mr. Shelby was thoughtfully peeling an orange, Haley broke out afresh, with becoming diffidence, but as if actually driven by the force of truth to say a few words more. It dont look well, now, for a feller to be praisin himself; but I say it jest because its the truth. I believe Im reckoned to bring in about the finest droves of niggers that is brought in,at least, Ive been told so; if I have once, I reckon I have a hundred times,all in good case,fat and likely, and I lose as few as any man in the business. And I lays it all to my management, sir; and humanity, sir, I may say, is the great pillar of my management. Mr. Shelby did not know what to say, and so he said, Indeed! Now, Ive been laughed at for my notions, sir, and Ive been talked to. They ant poplar, and they ant common; but I stuck to em, sir; Ive stuck to em, and realized well on em; yes, sir, they have paid their passage, I may say, and the trader laughed at his joke. There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations of humanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company. Perhaps you laugh too, dear reader; but you know humanity comes out in a variety of strange forms now-a-days, and there is no end to the odd things that humane people will say and do. Mr. Shelbys laugh encouraged the trader to proceed. Its strange, now, but I never could beat this into peoples heads. Now, there was Tom Loker, my old partner, down in Natchez; he was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil with niggers,on principle t was, you see, for a better hearted feller never broke bread; t was his system, sir. I used to talk to Tom. Why, Tom, I used to say, when your gals takes on and cry, whats the use o crackin on em over the head, and knockin on em round? Its ridiculous, says I, and dont do no sort o good. Why, I dont see no harm in their cryin, says I; its natur, says I, and if natur cant blow off one way, it will another. Besides, Tom, says I, it jest spiles your gals; they get sickly, and down in the mouth; and sometimes they gets ugly,particular yallow gals do,and its the devil and all gettin on em broke in. Now, says I, why cant you kinder coax em up, and speak em fair? Depend on it, Tom, a little humanity, thrown in along, goes a heap further than all your jawin and crackin; and it pays better, says I, depend on t. But Tom couldnt get the hang on t; and he spiled so many for me, that I had to break off with him, though he was a good-hearted fellow, and as fair a business hand as is goin And do you find your ways of managing do the business better than Toms? said Mr. Shelby. Why, yes, sir, I may say so. You see, when I any ways can, I takes a leetle care about the onpleasant parts, like selling young uns and that,get the gals out of the wayout of sight, out of mind, you know,and when its clean done, and cant be helped, they naturally gets used to it. Tant, you know, as if it was white folks, thats brought,up in the way of spectin to keep their children and wives, and all that. Niggers, you know, thats fetched up properly, hant no kind of spectations of no kind; so all these things comes easier. Im afraid mine are not properly brought up, then, said Mr. Shelby. Spose not; you Kentucky folks spile your niggers. You mean well by em, but tant no real kindness, arter all. Now, a nigger, you see, whats got to be hacked and tumbled round the world, and sold to Tom, and Dick, and the Lord knows who, tant no kindness to be givin on him notions and expectations, |
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