A SLAVE DEALER'S HUMANITY. [From Uncle Tom's Cabin.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 788, 19 February 1853, Page 4

A SLAVE DEALER'S HUMANITY. [From Uncle Tom's Cabin.]

"There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as hi mother. There was the same rich, full, dark eye, with its long lathes ; the same ripples of silky black hair. The brown of her complexion gave way on the cheek to a perceptible blmfi, which deepened as she saw the gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguised admiration. Her dress was of » be neates} possible fit, and set off to advantage her finely moulded shape. A delicately formed band, and a trim foot and ancle, were items of appearance that did not escape the quick eye of the trader, well used to run up at a glance the points' of a fine female article. "'Well, Eliza?' said her master, as she stopped and looked hesitatingly at him. "' I was looking for Harry, please, sir* ; and the boy bounded toward her, showing his spoils, which he bad gathered in the skirt of bis robe. " « Well, take him away, then" said Mr. Shelby ; and hastily she withdrew, carrying the child on her arm. "f By Jupiter !' said the trader, turning to him in admiration, ' there's an article now t You might make your fortune, on that ar gal in Orleans, any day. I've seen over a thousand, in my day, paid down for gals not a bit handsomer.' " ' I don't want to make my fortune on her,* said Mr. Shelby, drily ; and, seeking to turn the conversation, be uncorked a bottle of fresh wine, and atked bis companion's opinion of it.; " ' Capital, sir — first chop !' said the trader ; then turning and slapping bis hand familiarly on Shelby's sbeqlder, be addtd, * Come, bow will you trade about the gal ? what shall I say for | her ? whtt'll you take V " ' Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold,' said Shelby ; 'my wife would not part with her ior her weight in gold.' " 'Ay, ay, women always say such things, 'cause tbey bant no sort of calculation. Just show'em bow many watches, feathers, and trinkets one's weight in gold would huy, and that alters the case, I reckon.' " ' I tell you, Haley, this must not be spoken of. I say no, and I mean no/ said Shelby, decidedly. " 'Well, you'll let me have the boy, though V said the trader ; ' you must own that I have come down pretty handsomely for him.' " ' What on earth can you want with the child?' said Shelby. " ' Why, I've got a friend that's going into this yer branch of the business — wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy articles entirely — sell for waiters, and so <>p, to rich 'uns, that «an pay for handsome 'uns. - It

business, 1 generally avoids 'em, sir. Now, what if you get tbe girl^off for a day, or a week, or so; the thing's done quietly, — all over before the comes borne. Your wife might get her some earrings, or a new gowo, or some such truck, to make up with her.' •• * I'm afraid not. 1 " ' Lor bless ye, yes ! These critters ant like White folks, you know ; they gets over things, only manage right. Now, they say,' said Hiley, assuming a candid and confidential air, ' that thii kind o' trade is hardening to the feelings ; but 1 never found it so. Fact is, I never could do things up tbe way some fellers manage the business. I've seen 'em as would pull a woman's child out of her arms, and set him up to sell, and she screechin' like mad all the time : very bad policy — damages tbe article — makes 'em quite unfit for service Sometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort o' handling. The fellow that was trading for her did'nt want her baby I and she was one of your real high sort, when her blood was up. • I tell you, she squeezed up her child iv her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to thiak on't ; and when they carried off the child, and locked her up, she jest went ravin' mad, and died in a week. Clear waste, sir, of a thousand' dollars, just for want of management, — there's whert't is. It's always best to do the humane thing, sir, that's been iky experience. " 'And the tradar leaned back in his chair, and folded his arms, with an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himielf i second Wttberforce. " The subject appeared to interest tbe gentlesas &cpifi Jui #«ii» Sin siitibv wsi tboogbtfully pediog xa orange, Haley brok* cat afrssh,

with becoming diffidence, bat as if actually driven by force of truth to sty a few words more. "* It don't look well, no*, for a feller to be praisin' himself; but I sty it because it's tbe truth. I believe I'm reckoned to bring in about the finest droves of niggeri that is brought in — at least I've been told so ; if I have once, I reckon I have a hundred times— -all in good case — fat and likely, »od I lose as few at any man in the business. And I lays it all to my management, sir ; and humanity, sir, I may say, is the great pillar of my management. " Mr. Shelby did not know what to sat, so be said, 'Indeed!' Jt " ' Now I've been laughed at for my notions, and I've been talked to. They an'i poplar, and they ant common ; but I stuck to 'em, sir : I've stuck to 'em, and realized well on them ; yes, sir, they have paid their Passage, I may say' ; and the trader laughed af his jok* " There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations of humanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company. Perhaps yon laugh too, dear reader ; but you know humanity comes out in a variety of strange forms now-a-dayi, and there is do end to the odd things that humane people will say and do. " Mr. Shelby's laugh encouraged the trader to proceed. " It's strange, now, but I never could beat this into people's heads. Now, there was Tom Loker, my old partner, down in Natchez ; be was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil with niggers — on principle 'twas you ses, fqr a better-hearted feller never brpke bread ; 'twas bit system, sir. I used to talk to Tom. ' Why* Tom,' I used to say, * when your gals takes «• and cry, what's tbe use o'cracking 'em over the head, and knockin' on 'em round ? It's ridiculous,' says I, ' and don't do no sort o'good. Why. I don't see no harm in their cryip',' says I ; *\t is natural,' says I, 'and if nafnr can't blow oft? one way U will another. Beside*, Tom, 1 says I, 'it jest spiles your gals ; they get sickly, and down in the mouth ; and sometimes they gets' ugly — particular yallow girls dp, and H*s tbe" devil and all gettin' on r em broke in. Now,' s'aya I, ' why can't you kinder coax 'em np, and speak 'em fair ? Depend on it, Tom, a little bninanity, thrown in along, goes a heap further than all your jawin' and crackin' ; and it pays better,' sayt I, 'depend on V But Tom couldn't get tbe bang on 't ; and he spiled no many for me, that I had to break off with him, though he was a goodhearted fellow, and as fair a business band as is goinV " ' And do you find your ways of managing do the business better than Tom's V said Mr. Shelby. *' • Why, yes, sir, I may so. You see, when I any ways can, I takes a lettle care about tbe onpleasant parts, like selling young 'uns and that; get the gals out of the way— out of sight out of mind, you know ; and when its clean done and can't be> helped, they naturally gets used to it. •Tan't, you know, as if it was WbUe foljts, that's brought up in the way of 'spectin* to keep their children and wives, and all that. Niggers, you know, that's fetched up properly, ha'ri't no kind of "spectation* of no kind ; so all these things ccmes easier.' "'l'm afraid mipe are not properly brought up, then,' skid Mr. Shelby. " * S'pose not. You Kentucky folks apil» your niggers. You mean well by 'em ; but 'taint 10 real kindness arter all. Now a nigger, you see, what's got to be backed and tumbled round the world, and sold 4o Tom and Dick and the Lord knows who, 'tan't no kindness to be givin' on him notions and expectations, and bringin' on him up too well for the rough and tumble comes all the harder on him arter. Now, I venture to say, your niggers would be quite chopfallen in a place where some of your plantation niggers would be singing and whooping like all possessed. Every man, you know, Mr. Shelby, naturally thinks well of hip own wjy ; «od I think I treat niggers just about as well as if's ever worth while to treat 'em.' ' " ' " ' It" a happy thing to be satisfied,' said Mr. Shelby, with a slight shrug, and some perceptible feelings of a disagreeable nature."