atering place,--to be fattened.
Here they are fed full daily; and, because some incline to pine, a
fiddle is kept commonly going among them, and they are made to dance
daily; and he who refuses to be merry--in whose soul thoughts of wife,
or child, or home, are too strong for him to be gay--is marked as sullen
and dangerous, and subjected to all the evils which the ill will of an
utterly irresponsible and hardened man can inflict upon him. Briskness,
alertness, and cheerfulness of appearance, especially before observers,
are constantly enforced upon them, both by the hope of thereby getting a
good master, and the fear of all that the driver may bring upon them if
they prove unsalable.

"What dat ar nigger doin here?" said Sambo, coming up to Tom, after Mr.
Skeggs had left the room. Sambo was a full black, of great size, very
lively, voluble, and full of trick and grimace.

"What you doin here?" said Sambo, coming up to Tom, and poking him
facetiously in the side. "Meditatin', eh?"

"I am to be sold at the auction, tomorrow!" said Tom, quietly.

"Sold at auction,--haw! haw! boys, an't this yer fun? I wish't I was
gwine that ar way!--tell ye, wouldn't I make em laugh? But how is
it,--dis yer whole lot gwine tomorrow?" said Sambo, laying his hand
freely on Adolph's shoulder.

"Please to let me alone!" said Adolph, fiercely, straightening himself
up, with extreme disgust.

"Law, now, boys! dis yer's one o' yer white niggers,--kind o' cream
color, ye know, scented!" said he, coming up to Adolph and snuffing. "O
Lor! he'd do for a tobaccer-shop; they could keep him to scent snuff!
Lor, he'd keep a whole shope agwine,--he would!"

"I say, keep off, can't you?" said Adolph, enraged.

"Lor, now, how touchy we is,--we white niggers! Look at us now!" and
Sambo gave a ludicrous imitation of Adolph's manner; "here's de airs and
graces. We's been in a good family, I specs."

"Yes," said Adolph; "I had a master that could have bought you all for
old truck!"

"Laws, now, only think," said Sambo, "the gentlemens that we is!"

"I belonged to the St. Clare family," said Adolph, proudly.

"Lor, you did! Be hanged if they ar'n't lucky to get shet of ye. Spects
they's gwine to trade ye off with a lot o' cracked tea-pots and sich
like!" said Sambo, with a provoking grin.

Adolph, enraged at this taunt, flew furiously at his adversary, swearing
and striking on every side of him. The rest laughed and shouted, and the
uproar brou