Late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February, two gentlemen weresitting alone over their wine, in a well-furnished dining parlor, inthe town of P----, in Kentucky. There were no servants present, and thegentlemen, with chairs closely approaching, seemed to be discussing somesubject with great earnestness.

For convenience sake, we have said, hitherto, two _gentlemen_. One ofthe parties, however, when critically examined, did not seem, strictlyspeaking, to come under the species. He was a short, thick-set man,with coarse, commonplace features, and that swaggering air of pretensionwhich marks a low man who is trying to elbow his way upward in theworld. He was much over-dressed, in a gaudy vest of many colors, a blueneckerchief, bedropped gayly with yellow spots, and arranged with aflaunting tie, quite in keeping with the general air of the man. Hishands, large and coarse, were plentifully bedecked with rings; and hewore a heavy gold watch-chain, with a bundle of seals of portentoussize, and a great variety of colors, attached to it,--which, in theardor of conversation, he was in the habit of flourishing and jinglingwith evident satisfaction. His conversation was in free and easydefiance of Murray's Grammar,* and was garnished at convenient intervalswith various profane expressions, which not even the desire to begraphic in our account shall induce us to transcribe.

* English Grammar (1795), by Lindley Murray (1745-1826), the most authoritative American grammarian of his day.

His companion, Mr. Shelby, had the appearance of a gentleman; and thearrangements of the house, and the general air of the housekeeping,indicated easy, and even opulent circumstances. As we before stated, thetwo were in the midst of an earnest conversation.

"That is the way I should arrange the matter," said Mr. Shelby.

"I can't make trade that way--I positively can't, Mr. Shelby," said theother, holding up a glass of wine between his eye and the light.

"Why, the fact is, Haley, Tom is an uncommon fellow; he is certainlyworth that sum anywhere,--steady, honest, capable, manages my whole farmlike a clock."

"You mean honest, as niggers go," said Haley, helping himself to a glassof brandy.

"No; I mean, really, Tom is a good, steady, sensible, pious fellow. Hegot religion at a camp-meeting, four years ago; and I believe hereally _did_ get it. I've trusted him, since then, with everything Ihave,--money, house, horses,--and let him come and go round the country;and I always found him true and square in everything."

"Some folks don't believe there is pious niggers Shelby," said Haley,with a candid flourish of his hand, "but _I do_. I had a fellow, now,in this yer last lot I took to Orleans--'t was as good as a meetin, now,really, to hear that critter pray; and he was quite gentle and quietlike. He fetched me a good sum, too, for I bought him cheap of a manthat was 'bliged to sell out; so I realized six hundred on him. Yes, Iconsider religion a valeyable thing in a nigger, when it's the genuinearticle, and no mistake."

"Well, Tom's got the real article, if ever a fellow had," rejoined theother. "Why, last fall, I let him go to Cincinnati alone, to do businessfor me, and bring home five hundred dollars. 'Tom,' says I to him,'I trust you, because I think you're a Christian--I know you wouldn'tcheat.' Tom comes back, sure enough; I knew he would. Some low fellows,they say, said to him--Tom, why don't you make tracks for Canada?' 'Ah,master trusted me, and I couldn't,'--they told me about it. I am sorryto part with Tom, I must say. You ought to let him cover the wholebalance of the debt; and you would, Haley, if you had any conscience."

"Well, I've got just as much conscience as any man in business canafford to keep,--just a little, you know, to swear by, as 't were," saidthe trader, jocularly; "and, then, I'm ready to do anything in reasonto 'blige friends; but this yer, you see, is a leetle too hard on afellow--a leetle too hard." The trader sighed contemplatively, andpoured out some more brandy.

"Well, then, Haley, how will you trade?" said Mr. Shelby, after anuneasy interval of silence.

"Well, haven't you a boy or gal that you could throw in with Tom?"

"Hum!--none that I could well spare; to tell the truth, it's only hardnecessity makes me willing to sell at all. I don't like parting with anyof my hands, that's a fact."

Here the door opened, and a small quadroon boy, between four and fiveyears of age, entered the room. There was something in his appearanceremarkably beautiful and engaging. His black hair, fine as floss silk,hung in glossy curls about his round, dimpled face, while a pair oflarge dark eyes, full of fire and softness, looked out from beneath therich, long lashes, as he peered curiously into the apartment. A gay robeof scarlet and yellow plaid, carefully made and neatly fitted, set offto advantage the dark and rich style of his beauty; and a certain comicair of assurance, blended with bashfulness, showed that he had been notunused to being petted and noticed by his master.

"Hulloa, Jim Crow!" said Mr. Shelby, whistling, and snapping a bunch ofraisins towards him, "pick that up, now!"

The child scampered, with all his little strength, after the prize,while his master laughed.

"Come here, Jim Crow," said he. The child came up, and the master pattedthe curly head, and chucked him under the chin.

"Now, Jim, show this gentleman how you can dance and sing." The boycommenced one of those wild, grotesque songs common among the negroes,in a rich, clear voice, accompanying his singing with many comicevolutions of the hands, feet, and whole body, all in perfect time tothe music.

"Bravo!" said Haley, throwing him a quarter of an orange.

"Now, Jim, walk like old Uncle Cudjoe, when he has the rheumatism," saidhis master.

Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance ofdeformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his master'sstick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawninto a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation ofan old man.

Both gentlemen laughed uproariously.

"Now, Jim," said his master, "show us how old Elder Robbins leads thepsalm." The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, andcommenced toning a psalm tune through his nose, with imperturbablegravity.

"Hurrah! bravo! what a young 'un!" said Haley; "that chap's a case,I'll promise. Tell you what," said he, suddenly clapping his hand on Mr.Shelby's shoulder, "fling in that chap, and I'll settle the business--Iwill. Come, now, if that ain't doing the thing up about the rightest!"

At this moment, the door was pushed gently open, and a young quadroonwoman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room.

There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as itsmother. There was the same rich, full, dark eye, with its long lashes;the same ripples of silky black hair. The brown of her complexion gaveway on the cheek to a perceptible flush, which deepened as she sawthe gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguisedadmiration. Her dress was of the neatest possible fit, and set off toadvantage her finely moulded shape;--a delicately formed hand and a trimfoot and ankle were items of appearance that did not escape the quickeye of the trader, well used to run up at a glance the points of a finefemale article.

"Well, Eliza?" said her master, as she stopped and looked hesitatinglyat him.

"I was looking for Harry, please, sir;" and the boy bounded toward her,showing his spoils, which he had gathered in the skirt of his robe.

"Well, take him away then," said Mr. Shelby; and hastily she withdrew,carrying the child on her arm.

"By Jupiter," said the trader, turning to him in admiration, "there's anarticle, now! You might make your fortune on that ar gal in Orleans, anyday. I've seen over a thousand, in my day, paid down for gals not a bithandsomer."

"I don't want to make my fortune on her," said Mr. Shelby, dryly; and,seeking to turn the conversation, he uncorked a bottle of fresh wine,and asked his companion's opinion of it.

"Capital, sir,--first chop!" said the trader; then turning, and slappinghis hand familiarly on Shelby's shoulder, he added--

"Come, how will you trade about the gal?--what shall I say forher--what'll you take?"

"Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold," said Shelby. "My wife would not partwith her for her weight in gold."

"Ay, ay! women always say such things, cause they ha'nt no sort ofcalculation. Just show 'em how many watches, feathers, and trinkets,one's weight in gold would buy, and that alters the case, _I_ reckon."

"I tell you, Haley, this must not be spoken of; I say no, and I meanno," said Shelby, decidedly.

"Well, you'll let me have the boy, though," said the trader; "you mustown I've 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 thebusiness--wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancyarticles entirely--sell for waiters, and so on, to rich 'uns, thatcan pay for handsome 'uns. It sets off one of yer great places--a realhandsome boy to open door, wait, and tend. They fetch a good sum; andthis little devil is such a comical, musical concern, he's just thearticle!'

"I would rather not sell him," said Mr. Shelby, thoughtfully; "the factis, sir, I'm a humane man, and I hate to take the boy from his mother,sir."

"O, you do?--La! yes--something of that ar natur. I understand,perfectly. It is mighty onpleasant getting on with women, sometimes, Ial'ays hates these yer screechin,' screamin' times. They are _mighty_onpleasant; but, as I manages business, I generally avoids 'em, sir.Now, what if you get the girl off for a day, or a week, or so; then thething's done quietly,--all over before she comes home. Your wife mightget her some ear-rings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make upwith her."

"I'm afraid not."

"Lor bless ye, yes! These critters ain't like white folks, you know;they gets over things, only manage right. Now, they say," said Haley,assuming a candid and confidential air, "that this kind o' trade ishardening to the feelings; but I never found it so. Fact is, I nevercould do things up the way some fellers manage the business. I've seen'em as would pull a woman's child out of her arms, and set him upto sell, and she screechin' like mad all the time;--very badpolicy--damages the article--makes 'em quite unfit for servicesometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirelyruined by this sort o' handling. The fellow that was trading for herdidn't want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort, when herblood was up. I tell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, andtalked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold tothink of '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 athousand dollars, just for want of management,--there's where 'tis. It's always best to do the humane thing, sir; that's been _my_experience." And the trader leaned back in his chair, and folded hisarm, with an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himself asecond Wilberforce.

The subject appeared to interest the gentleman deeply; for while Mr.Shelby was thoughtfully peeling an orange, Haley broke out afresh, withbecoming diffidence, but as if actually driven by the force of truth tosay a few words more.

"It don't look well, now, for a feller to be praisin' himself; but I sayit jest because it's the truth. I believe I'm reckoned to bring in aboutthe finest droves of niggers that is brought in,--at least, I've beentold so; if I have once, I reckon I have a hundred times,--all in goodcase,--fat and likely, and I lose as few as any man in the business. AndI lays it all to my management, sir; and humanity, sir, I may say, isthe great pillar of _my_ management."

Mr. Shelby did not know what to say, and so he said, "Indeed!"

"Now, I've been laughed at for my notions, sir, and I've been talked to.They an't pop'lar, and they an't common; but I stuck to 'em, sir; I'vestuck to 'em, and realized well on 'em; yes, sir, they have paid theirpassage, I may say," and the trader laughed at his joke.

There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations ofhumanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company. Perhapsyou laugh too, dear reader; but you know humanity comes out in a varietyof strange forms now-a-days, and there is no end to the odd things thathumane 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; he was aclever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil with niggers,--on principle't was, you see, for a better hearted feller never broke bread; 't washis _system_, sir. I used to talk to Tom. 'Why, Tom,' I used to say,'when your gals takes on and cry, what's the use o' crackin on' em overthe head, and knockin' on 'em round? It's ridiculous,' says I, 'anddon't do no sort o' good. Why, I don't see no harm in their cryin','says I; 'it's natur,' says I, 'and if natur can't blow off one way, itwill another. Besides, Tom,' says I, 'it jest spiles your gals; they getsickly, and down in the mouth; and sometimes they gets ugly,--particularyallow gals do,--and it's the devil and all gettin' on 'em broke in.Now,' says I, 'why can't you kinder coax 'em up, and speak 'em fair?Depend on it, Tom, a little humanity, thrown in along, goes a heapfurther than all your jawin' and crackin'; and it pays better,' says I,'depend on 't.' But Tom couldn't get the hang on 't; and he spiledso many for me, that I had to break off with him, though he was agood-hearted fellow, and as fair a business hand as is goin'."

"And do you find your ways of managing do the business better thanTom's?" said Mr. Shelby.

"Why, yes, sir, I may say so. You see, when I any ways can, I takesa leetle care about the onpleasant parts, like selling young uns andthat,--get the gals out of the way--out of sight, out of mind, youknow,--and when it's clean done, and can't be helped, they naturallygets used to it. 'Tan't, you know, as if it was white folks, that'sbrought up in the way of 'spectin' to keep their children and wives, andall that. Niggers, you know, that's fetched up properly, ha'n't no kindof 'spectations of no kind; so all these things comes easier."

"I'm afraid mine are not properly brought up, then," said Mr. Shelby.

"S'pose not; you Kentucky folks spile your niggers. You mean well by'em, but 'tan't no real kindness, arter all. Now, a nigger, you see,what's got to be hacked and tumbled round the world, and sold to Tom,and Dick, and the Lord knows who, 'tan't no kindness to be givin' on himnotions and expectations, and bringin' on him up too well, for the roughand tumble comes all the harder on him arter. Now, I venture to say,your niggers would be quite chop-fallen in a place where some of yourplantation niggers would be singing and whooping like all possessed.Every man, you know, Mr. Shelby, naturally thinks well of his own ways;and I think I treat niggers just about as well as it's ever worth whileto treat 'em."

"It's a happy thing to be satisfied," said Mr. Shelby, with a slightshrug, and some perceptible feelings of a disagreeable nature.

"Well," said Haley, after they had both silently picked their nuts for aseason, "what do you say?"

"I'll think the matter over, and talk with my wife," said Mr. Shelby."Meantime, Haley, if you want the matter carried on in the quiet wayyou speak of, you'd best not let your business in this neighborhood beknown. It will get out among my boys, and it will not be a particularlyquiet business getting away any of my fellows, if they know it, I'llpromise you."

"O! certainly, by all means, mum! of course. But I'll tell you. I'm ina devil of a hurry, and shall want to know, as soon as possible, what Imay depend on," said he, rising and putting on his overcoat.

"Well, call up this evening, between six and seven, and you shall havemy answer," said Mr. Shelby, and the trader bowed himself out of theapartment.

"I'd like to have been able to kick the fellow down the steps," saidhe to himself, as he saw the door fairly closed, "with his impudentassurance; but he knows how much he has me at advantage. If anybodyhad ever said to me that I should sell Tom down south to one of thoserascally traders, I should have said, 'Is thy servant a dog, thathe should do this thing?' And now it must come, for aught I see. AndEliza's child, too! I know that I shall have some fuss with wifeabout that; and, for that matter, about Tom, too. So much for being indebt,--heigho! The fellow sees his advantage, and means to push it."

Perhaps the mildest form of the system of slavery is to be seen in theState of Kentucky. The general prevalence of agricultural pursuits of aquiet and gradual nature, not requiring those periodic seasons ofhurry and pressure that are called for in the business of more southerndistricts, makes the task of the negro a more healthful and reasonableone; while the master, content with a more gradual style of acquisition,has not those temptations to hardheartedness which always overcome frailhuman nature when the prospect of sudden and rapid gain is weighed inthe balance, with no heavier counterpoise than the interests of thehelpless and unprotected.

Whoever visits some estates there, and witnesses the good-humoredindulgence of some masters and mistresses, and the affectionate loyaltyof some slaves, might be tempted to dream the oft-fabled poetic legendof a patriarchal institution, and all that; but over and above the scenethere broods a portentous shadow--the shadow of _law_. So long as thelaw considers all these human beings, with beating hearts and livingaffections, only as so many _things_ belonging to a master,--so longas the failure, or misfortune, or imprudence, or death of the kindestowner, may cause them any day to exchange a life of kind protectionand indulgence for one of hopeless misery and toil,--so long it isimpossible to make anything beautiful or desirable in the best regulatedadministration of slavery.

Mr. Shelby was a fair average kind of man, good-natured and kindly, anddisposed to easy indulgence of those around him, and there had neverbeen a lack of anything which might contribute to the physical comfortof the negroes on his estate. He had, however, speculated largely andquite loosely; had involved himself deeply, and his notes to a largeamount had come into the hands of Haley; and this small piece ofinformation is the key to the preceding conversation.

Now, it had so happened that, in approaching the door, Eliza had caughtenough of the conversation to know that a trader was making offers toher master for somebody.

She would gladly have stopped at the door to listen, as she came out;but her mistress just then calling, she was obliged to hasten away.

Still she thought she heard the trader make an offer for her boy;--couldshe be mistaken? Her heart swelled and throbbed, and she involuntarilystrained him so tight that the little fellow looked up into her face inastonishment.

"Eliza, girl, what ails you today?" said her mistress, when Eliza hadupset the wash-pitcher, knocked down the workstand, and finally wasabstractedly offering her mistress a long nightgown in place of the silkdress she had ordered her to bring from the wardrobe.

Eliza started. "O, missis!" she said, raising her eyes; then, burstinginto tears, she sat down in a chair, and began sobbing.

"Why, Eliza child, what ails you?" said her mistress.

"O! missis, missis," said Eliza, "there's been a trader talking withmaster in the parlor! I heard him."

"Well, silly child, suppose there has."

"O, missis, _do_ you suppose mas'r would sell my Harry?" And the poorcreature threw herself into a chair, and sobbed convulsively.

"Sell him! No, you foolish girl! You know your master never deals withthose southern traders, and never means to sell any of his servants, aslong as they behave well. Why, you silly child, who do you think wouldwant to buy your Harry? Do you think all the world are set on him as youare, you goosie? Come, cheer up, and hook my dress. There now, put myback hair up in that pretty braid you learnt the other day, and don't golistening at doors any more."

"Well, but, missis, _you_ never would give your consent--to--to--"

"Nonsense, child! to be sure, I shouldn't. What do you talk so for? Iwould as soon have one of my own children sold. But really, Eliza, youare getting altogether too proud of that little fellow. A man can't puthis nose into the door, but you think he must be coming to buy him."

Reassured by her mistress' confident tone, Eliza proceeded nimbly andadroitly with her toilet, laughing at her own fears, as she proceeded.

Mrs. Shelby was a woman of high class, both intellectually and morally.To that natural magnanimity and generosity of mind which one often marksas characteristic of the women of Kentucky, she added high moral andreligious sensibility and principle, carried out with great energy andability into practical results. Her husband, who made no professionsto any particular religious character, nevertheless reverenced andrespected the consistency of hers, and stood, perhaps, a little in aweof her opinion. Certain it was that he gave her unlimited scope in allher benevolent efforts for the comfort, instruction, and improvement ofher servants, though he never took any decided part in them himself. Infact, if not exactly a believer in the doctrine of the efficiency of theextra good works of saints, he really seemed somehow or other to fancythat his wife had piety and benevolence enough for two--to indulge ashadowy expectation of getting into heaven through her superabundance ofqualities to which he made no particular pretension.

The heaviest load on his mind, after his conversation with the trader,lay in the foreseen necessity of breaking to his wife the arrangementcontemplated,--meeting the importunities and opposition which he knew heshould have reason to encounter.

Mrs. Shelby, being entirely ignorant of her husband's embarrassments,and knowing only the general kindliness of his temper, had been quitesincere in the entire incredulity with which she had met Eliza'ssuspicions. In fact, she dismissed the matter from her mind, without asecond thought; and being occupied in preparations for an evening visit,it passed out of her thoughts entirely.