ink we just de
pleasantest creters in de whole ob Berginny; and we takes de young uns
out wid us to de cotton field, and after dey gets use to de hot sun in
dar eyes, dey crawl round on de ground, snatchin' up de bits ob cotton,
like dey hab been use to it all dar days; and we not mind it much if old
oberseer did gib us a lash ober de head, 'casionally, when we stops to
cotch a bref, long as we habs de young uns to lift us up a bit. But dem
days not stay long, for one day dar come a fierce looking man, from way
down in Kentuck, and as he went ober de plantation, I oberhears him
saying to massa, dat he must hab just de smartest, good-looking niggars
dat could be scared up, for dar was one ob de richest men in Kentuck dat
was willing to pay any price for dem; but dey must be made ob de right
material, for he worked his niggars, and cut dem up so, dat he hab to
get in a fresh supply ebery now and den. Dat was death-blow to me, for I
knew my Phillis was considered de smartest, best looking gal on de
plantation; for many a time I hear massa say, dat gal worth a dozen
common ones, and he spoke de truth for once, for I knows dar neber was
anoder like her. Well, I tells Phillis dat night what I hears, and I
tells her to jus slack off a little, and put on her worst look when de
man come round next day, and perhaps dey oberlook her; but 'pears like
we didn't get much comfort from dat, and all night long we keeps awake,
for we couldn't help tinking dat might be de last time we eber see each
oder again; for we neber hear ob de good place den, where we might meet
when slabe massa get trough wid us. De next morning, afore de broke ob
day, massa and de trader comes round to our cabin, and seeing Phillis at
de door, putting de young uns to rights, and clarin' up a little, 'fore
we goes out to de field, de fierce man cracked his whip, and jumping
ober de young uns, caught Phillis by de arm, and whirling her round and
round, called out, 'I say, mister, dis ere's de likelist critter I've
sot eyes on dis many a day! I must hab dis one at any price!, Old
Killall be good-natured a month, when he sees dis handsome critter; but
if he don't use her up in less dan dat time, he'll do what he neber done
afore! I tell you, sar, it's surprisin' to see how much work he'll get
out ob his niggars; goes ahead ob anyting you eber heard ob; dat's de
way he's made such a power ob money. He says he's tried it faithfully,
year in and year out, and he's thoroug