me on the block again. Long did so and named his price
but when he learned who had bid me off he backed down. Later in the day
he put me on the block and named another price much higher than the
price formerly set. He was asked by the white folks to name his price
for his bargain and he did so. I was again put on the auction block and
father bought me in, putting up the cash. Long then flew into a rage and
cursed my father saying, 'you damn black son of a bitch, you think you
are white do you? Now just to show you are black, I will not let you
have your son at any price.' Father knew it was all off, mother was
frantic but there was nothing they could do about it. They had to stand
and see the speculator put me on his horse behind him and ride away
without allowing either of them to tell me goodbye. I figure I was sold
three times in one day, as the price asked was offered in each instance.
Mother was told under threat of a whupping not to make any outcry when I
was carried away. He took me to his home, but on the way he stopped for
refreshments, at a plantation, and while he was eating and drinking, he
put me into a room where two white women were spinning flax. I was given
a seat across the room from where they were working. After I had sat
there awhile wondering where I was going and thinking about mother and
home, I went to one of the women and asked, 'Missus when will I see my
mother again?' She replied, I don't know child, go and sit down. I went
back to my seat and as I did so both the women stopped spinning for a
moment, looked at each other, and one of them remarked. "Almighty God,
this slavery business is a horrible thing. Chances are this boy will
never see his mother again." This remark nearly killed me, as I began to
fully realize my situation. Long, the Negro trader, soon came back, put
me on his horse and finished the trip to his home. He kept me at his
home awhile and then traded me to a man named William Moore who lived in
Person County. Moore at this time was planning to move to Kentucky which
he soon did, taking me with him. My mother found out by the "Grapevine
telegraph" that I was going to be carried to Kentucky. She got
permission and came to see me before they carried me off. When she
started home I was allowed to go part of the way with her but they sent
two Negro girls with us to insure my return. We were allowed to talk
privately, but while we were doing so, the two girls stood a short
distance