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his hand, helps himself to a generous piece of romescos tobacco. Romescos rejoins in a subdued voicehe thinks a man what loves dimes like the major cannot be modest in nigger business, because modesty aint trade commodity. It cannot be the man who thinks of such nonsense should sell outshould go north and join the humane society. Folks are all saints, he feels sure, down north yander wouldnt sell nigger propertythey only send south right smart preachers to keep up the dignity of the institution to do the peculiar religion of the very peculiar institution. No objection to

that nor haint no objection to their feelin bad about the poor niggers, so long as they like our cash and take our cotton. Thats where the pins drove in while it hangs they wouldnt be bad friends with us for the world. You may, mr. Romescos, suspend your remarks, says the vender, looking indignant, as he thrusts his right hand into his bosom, and attempts a word of introduction. Romescos must have his last word he never says die while he has a word at hand. The majors love must be credited, gentlemen hes a

thought the major had such touchy kind a feelins. Anything wrong just about yer goggler. Interrupts romescos, giving the vender a quizzical look, and a halfway wink. Then, setting his slouch hat on an extra poise, he contorts his face into a dozen grimaces. Keep conscience down, and strike up trade, he says, very coolly, drawing a large piece of tobacco from his breastpocket and filling his mouth to its utmost capacity. Feelings are over all things, responds the sheriff, who stands by, and will speak for the vender, who is less accustomed to speaking

sell. It makes a fellers heart feel as if it warnt stuck in the right place. Mr. Forshou casts another irresistible look at the children his countenance changes he says he is very sensitive, and shows it in his blushes. He might have saved his blushes for the benefit of the state. The state is careful of its blushes it has none to sellnone to bestow on a childs sorrow. Annette returns his somewhat touching manifestation of remorse with a childlike smile. Well. I reckon how folks is gettin tenderish, now a days. Whod

and warranted as sound as a roach. The honourable sheriff will gives titlesthat functionary being present signifies his willingnessand every man purchasing is expected to have his shiners ready, so that he can plunk down cash in ten days. I need not recount the circumstances under which this property is offered for sale it is enough to say that it is offered but, let me say, gentlemen, to enlarge upon it would be painful to my feelings. I will merely read the schedule, and, after selling the people, put up the oxen, mules, and farming utensils. Mr. Forshou, with easy contentment, takes up

the list and reads at the top of his voice. The names of heads of families are announced one by one they answer the call promptly. He continues till he reaches annette and nicholas, and here he pauses for a few moments, turning from the paper to them, as if he one minute saw them on the paper and the next on the floor. Here, gentlemen, he ejaculates, in a half guttural voicesomething he could not account for touched his conscience at the momentholding the paper nearer his eyeglass, there is two bits of property bordering on the sublime. It dazzlesseems almost too interesting to

arrival of deep pink blossoms addressed to nobody, but delivered regularly at the door of number 37, i shall not divulge no, not though a base attempt was made to incriminate me in the transaction. Between the pair who had arrived in our square on such friendly and promising terms, there was now no communication when they met. She was steadfastly adhering to that never. Never. Never. What less, indeed, could be expected of a faithful wife insulted by ardent hopes of her husbands early demise from a young man whom she had known but four hours. So it might have gone on to a sterile conclusion but for a

best customers present, he expects sharp and healthy bids. He will further remind them smiling and fretting his hands, as if to show the number of diamond rings he can afford to wear, that the property has been well raised, is well known, and ranges from the brightest and most interesting, to the commonest black field hand. Yes, gentlemen, he adds, by the fortune of this unfortunate sale we can accommodate you with anything in the line of negro property. We can sell you a church and a preachera dancehouse and a fiddlera cook and an oystershop. Anything. All sold for no fault

paper in his right, makes an obsequious bow to those who have honoured him with their company. He views them for a few moments, smiles, casts his eye over the paper again,it sets forth age and qualityand then at his marketable people. The invoice is complete the goods correspond exactly. The texture and quality have been appraised by good judges. Being specified, he commences reading the summons and writs, and concludes with other preliminaries of the sale. Now, gentlemen, says mr. Forshoufor such is his nameas he

evince great profoundness. A question seems to be the separating of wenches from their young uns. This is soon settled. Graspum, who has made his appearance, and is very quaintly and slowly making his apprehensions known, informs the doubting spectators that romescos, being well skilled, will do that little affair right up for a mere trifle. It takes him to bring the nonsense out of nigger wenches. This statement being quite satisfactory, the gentlemen purchasers are at rest on that point. The hour of sale has arrived,the crier rings his bell, the

purchasers crowd up to the stand, the motley group of negroes take the alarm, and seem inclined to close in towards a centre as the vender mounts the stand. The bell, with the sharp clanking sound, rings their funeral knell they startle, as with terror they listen with subdued anxiety they wait the result in painful suspense. How little we would recognise the picture from abroad. The vender, an amiable gentleman dressed in modest black, and whose cheerful countenance, graced with the blandest smile, betokens the antipodes of his inhuman traffic, holding his hat in his left hand, and a long

common man shambles. Here a venerable father sits, a bale of merchandise, moved with the quick pulsation of human senses. He looks around him as the storm of resentment seems ready to burst forth his wrinkled brow and haggard face in vain ask for sympathy. A little further on, and a mother leans over her child,tremblingly draws it to her side presses it nearer and nearer to her bosom. Near her, feeding a child with crumbs of bread, is a coarse negro, whose rough exterior covers a good heart. He gives a glance of hate and scorn at those who are soon to tear from him his nearest and

dearest. A gloomy ring of sullen faces encircle us hope, fear, and contempt are pictured in each countenance. Anxious to know its doom, the pentup soul burns madly within their breasts no tears can quench the firefreedom only can extinguish it. But, what are such things. Mere trifles when the soul loves only gold. What are they to men who buy such human trifles. Who buy and sell mankind, with feelings as unmoved as the virgin heart that knows no guilt. Various are the remarks made by those who are taking a cursory view of the people very learned in nigger nature are many their sayings

their children in their arms with warm affections. Children will no longer cling around their mothers,no longer fondle in that bosom where once they toyed and joyed. The articles murmur among themselves, cast longing glances at each other, meet the gaze of their purchasers, with pain and distrust brooding over their countenances. They would seem to trace the charactercruel or gentleof each in his look. Was it that god ordained one man thus to doom another. No. The very thought repulsed the plea. He never made one mans life to be sorrow

and fearto be the basest object, upon which blighting strife for gold fills the passions of tyrants. He never made man to be a dealer in his own kind. He never made man after his own image to imprecate the wrath of heaven by blackening earth with his foul deeds. He never made man to blacken this fair portion of earth with storms of contention, nor to overthrow the principles that gave it greatness. He never made man to fill the cup that makes the grim oppressor fierce in his triumphs over right. Come readercome with us let us look around the pale of these

of marstons plantation. No prayer is offered up for them, their souls being only embodied in their market value. Prayers are not known at the man shambles, though the hammer of the vender seals with death the lives of many. No gentleman in modest black cares aught for such death. The dealer will not pay the service fee. Good master is no longer their protector his familiar face, so buoyant with joy and affection, has passed from them. No more will that strong attachment manifest itself in their greetings. Fathers will be fathers no longerit is unlawful. Mothers cannot longer clasp

Dykes hours were such that he saw her only when she returned early, for he slept by day in his van, and worked most of the night on electrical experiments which he was conducting over on the river front, and which were to send his name resounding down the halls of fame. The newspapers have already caught an echo or two. On his way back from his experiments, he daily stopped at the shop of eberling the florist, where, besides chaste and elegant set pieces inscribed gates ajar and gone but not forgotten, one may, if expert and insistent, obtain really fresh roses. What connection these visits had with the matutinal

wonderfully attractive and promising they are generally admired by the customers, who view them with suspicious glances. Annettes clean white skin and fine features are remarkably promising,much valued as articles of merchandise,and will, in time, pay good interest. Her youth, however, saves her from present sacrifice,it thwarts that spirited competition which older property of the same quality produces when about to be knocked down under the hammer of freedom. It is a great day, a day of tribulation, with the once happy people

articles,and factors who, being rather sensitive of their dignity, give to others the negotiation of their business,are assembled in and around the mart, a covered shed, somewhat resembling those used by railroad companies for the storing of coarse merchandise. Marstons negroes are to be sold. Suspicious circumstances are connected with his sudden decline rumour has sounded her seventongued symbols upon it, and loud are the speculations. The cholera has made mighty ravages but the cholera could not have done all. Graspum has grasped the plantation, quietly and adroitly, but

masrs gone away. He shouts and several strike up, the rest joining in the old plantation chorusaway. Away. Away. Masrs gone away. Thus, with jingling chorus and seemingly joyous hearts, they march down to the manmarket. The two children, annette and nicholas, trail behind, in charge of the sheriff, whose better feelings seem to be troubling him very much. Every now and then, as they walk by his side, he casts a serious look at annette, as if conscience, speaking in deep pulsations, said it wasnt just right to sell such an interesting little creature. Onward they marched,

his head and heart warring the while. Theres something about it that doesnt seem to come just right in a fellows feelins, keeps working itself in his mind, until at length he mutters the words. It is the natural will to do good, struggling against the privileges which a government gives ungovernable men to do wrong. Chapter xviii. Let us follow poor human nature to the man shambles. Gentlemen dealers in want of human property,planters in want of a few prime people,brokers who have large transactions in such

property, linked in iron fellowship,the gentlemen having taken their whiskey,are all ready for the word, march. This significant admonition the sheriff gives, and the property sets off in solemn procession, like wanderers bound on a pilgrimage. Tramp, tramp, tramp, their footsteps fall in dull tones as they sally forth, in broken file, through the long aisles. Romescos is in high glee,his feelings bound with exultation, he marches along, twirling a stick over his head. They are soon in the street, where he invites them to strike up a lively songjim crack corn, and i dont care, foh

in this our land of greatness, have been betrayed. Harry, made willing property, is now placed by the side of his wife, as four small childrenthe youngest not more than two years oldcling at the skirts of her gown. The children are scarcely old enough to chain their strong affections for poor chained mother and father are quite enough to guarantee against their running away. Romescos, in his ample kindness, will allow them to toddle their way to market. They are not dangerous propertythey have their feelings, and will go to market to be sold, without running away.

The gang is ready. The gaoler, nearly out of breath, congratulates himself upon the manner of dispatching business at his establishment. Romescos will put them through a few evolutions before marching in the street so, placing himself at their right, and the gaoler at their left flank, they are made to march and countermarch several times round the yard. This done, the generous gaoler invites the gentlemen into his office he has a good glass of whiskey waiting their superior tastes. The ward gates are opened the great gate is withdrawn the

ya cant have yar own way with this child. A nigger what puts on parson airsif it is a progressive age niggermusnt put on fast notions to a white gentleman of my standing. If he does, we just take em out on him by the process of a small quantity of first rate knockin down, says romescos, amiably lending him a hand to get up. Graspum and the honourable sheriff are measuredly pacing up and down the yard, talking over affairs of state, and the singular purity of their own southern democracythat democracy which will surely elect the next president. Stepping aside in one of his

can walk the streets of a free country,but they must be bound in freedoms iron fellowship. The iron shackle clasps his wrist the lock ticks as romescos turns the key it vibrates to his very heart. With a sigh he says, ours is a life of sorrow, streaming its dark way along a dangerous path. It will ebb into the bright and beautiful of heaven that heaven wherein we put our trustwhere our hopes are strengthened. O. Come the day when we shall be borne to the realms of joyjoy celestial. There no unholy shade of birthunholy only to manshall doom us the colour of our skin will

deliver. On his part he worried over the loneliness and simplicity of her establishmentone small but neat maidwhich he deemed incongruous with her general effect of luxury and ease of life, and wondered whether she had split with her family. She hadnt ive always been brought up like aaan artichoke, she confided to me. So when father went west for six months, i just moved, and im going to be a potato and see how i like it. Besides, ive got some research work to do. Every morning a taxi called and took her to an uptown library, and every afternoon she came back to the harlequinfronted house at number 37.

monkey tricks wont shine with such a philosopher as romescos. The man of bones, blood, and flesh, can tell him to sell a nigger preacher to his brother of the ministry, and make it very profitable. He assures harry, while holding the shackles in his hands, that he may put on just as much of the preacher as he can get, when he gets to the shambles, and hears the fives and tens bidding on his black hide. Harry must submit he does it with pain and reluctance. He is chained to his wifea favour suggested by the sheriffwith whom he

wouldnt sellwouldnt do so wid me. Master knows i love god, am honest and peaceable. Why chain the honest. Why chain the peaceable. Why chain the innocent. They need no fetters, no poisoning shackles. The guilty only fear the hand of retribution, says harry, a curl of contempt on his lip. He takes a step backwards as romescos holds the heavy irons before him. You dont come nigger preacher over this ar child tant whats crackd up to be. I larns niggers to preach different tunes. Dont spoil prime stock for such nonsense

master sheriff will stand answerable for me, interrupts harry, turning to that honourable functionary, and claiming his protection. That gentleman says it is rather out of his line to interfere. Not a preacher trick, i say againromescos evinces signs of increasing temperya black theologin. Preachers cant put on such dignity when theyr property. Preachers of colour must be doubly humbled they must be humble before god, humbled before king cotton, humbled before the king dealer, who will sell them for their dollars worth. Harry must do the bidding of his king master his

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