hundred dollars--about two thirds their market value.

'Now, gentlemen, we will offer you the old negress, Deborah, the mother
of Joe. Bring her forward!' cried the man of the hammer.

Four strong negroes lifted the chair of the aged African, and bore her
to the block. When the strange vehicle reached the steps, young Preston
steadied it into its appropriate position, and then took a stand beside
it.

'This aged lady, gentlemen, is warranted over eighty; she may be a
hundred. She can't walk, but she can pray and sing to kill. How much is
bid for all this piety done up in black crape?' cried the auctioneer,
smiling complacently, as if conscious of saying a witty thing.

Joe turned on him quickly. 'Sir, you are employed to _sell_ these
people, not to sport with their feelings. Let me hear no more of this.'

'No offence, Mr. Preston. Gentlemen, how much is bid for old Deborah?'

'Five dollars,' said young Preston.

The old negress, who sat nearly double, straightened up her bent form,
and, looking at Joe with a sad, pleading expression, exclaimed:

'Oh, massa Joe! ole nussy'm wuth more'n dat. 'Ou woan't leff har be sole
fur no sech money as dat, will 'ou, massa Joe?'

'No aunty; not if you want to bring more. I'd give your weight in gold
for you;' and, turning to the auctioneer, he said: 'A hundred dollars is
my bid, sir.'

'Bress 'ou, massa Joe! bress 'ou! 'Ou'm my own dear, bressed chile!'
exclaimed the old negress, clutching at his hand, and, with a sudden
effort, rising to her feet. She stood thus for a moment, then she
staggered back, fell into her chair, uttered a low moan, and--was FREE!

A wild excitement followed, during which the body was borne off. It was
a full half hour before quiet was restored and the sale resumed. Then
about twenty negroes, of both sexes, were put up singly. All of them
were bought by Joe, except a young woman, whose husband belonged to
Gaston. The bidding on her was spirited, and she was run up to ten
hundred and fifty dollars. As Gaston bid that sum, he jumped upon a
bench, and called out:

'Gentlemen, I can stand this as long as you can. I mean to have this
woman, anyhow.'

No one offered more, and 'the lot' was struck off to Gaston. Joe did not
bid on her at all.

When the next negro ascended the stand, Joe beckoned to me, and said:

'Selly is next on the catalogue. Will you bring her here?'

As I entered the mansion, she met me. Her face was pale, and there was a
ner