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Show 176 UNCLE TOM'S CADIN: On, "Anybody'd be a fool 't would. She's half blind, crooked with rhcumatis, and fooUsh to boot.'' "Some buys up these ycr old critturs, nnd scs there's a sight more wear in 'em than n. body 'd think," said the man, reflectively. "No go, 'tall," said Haley; "wouldn't take her for a present, -fact, - I 've seen, now." "Wal, 'tis kinder pity, now, not to buy her with her son, -her hca.rt seems so sot on him, - s'posc they fling her in cheap." "Them that's got money to spend that ar way, it's all well enough. I shall bid ofT on that ar boy for a plantationhand; -wouldn't be bothered with her, no way,- not if they 'd give her to me," said Ihlcy. "She '11 take on Ucsp't," said the man. "Nat'IIy, she will," said the trader, coolly. The conversation was here interrupted by a busy hum in the audience ; and the auctioneer, n. short, bustling, important fellow, elbowed his way into the crowd. l'he old woman drew in her breath, aml caught instinctively at her son. "Keep close to ycr mammy, Albert, - close,-dey 'II put us up togcdder,:' she said. " 0, mammy, I 'm feard they won't," sn.id the boy. " Dey must, child i I can't live, no ways, if they don't," said the old creature, vehemently. The stentorian tones of the auctioneer, calling out to clear the way, now announcod that the sale was about to commence. A place was cleared, and tho bidding began. 'l.'he different men on the list were soon knocked off at prices which showed n pretty brisk demand in tho market; two of thorn fell to Haley. "Come, now, young un," said the auctioneer, giving LifE AMONO THE LOWLY. 177 the boy n. touch with his hammer, "be up and show your springs, now." "Put us two up togeclder, togedder, -do please, l\fas'r,n saill the old woman, holding fast to her boy. "l3c ofT," said the man, gruilly, pushing her hands away; "you come last. Now, darkey, spring i" and, with the word, he pushed the boy toward the block, while n deep, heavy groan rose behind him. The boy paused, and looked back; but there was no time to stay, and, clashing the tears from hls large, bright eyes, he was up in a moment. His £no figure, alert limbs, and bright face, raised an instant competition, and half a dozen bids simultaneously met the car of the auctioneer. Anxious, half-frightened, he looked from side to side, as he hcaxd the clatter of contending bids, -now here, now there,- till the hammer fell. Haley bad got him. He was pushed from the block towmxl his new master, but stopped one moment, and looked back, when his ,POOr old mother, trembling in every limb, held out her shaking hands toward him. "Buy me too, Ma.s'r, for de deax Lord's sake!- buy me, -I shall die if you don't!" "You 'II clio if I do, that 's the kink of it," said Haley," no ! " And he turned on his heel The bidding for the poor old creature was summary. The man who bad addressed Haley, and who seemed not destitute of compassion, bought her for a trifle, and the spectators began to disperse. 'l'hc poor victims of the sale, who bad been brought up in one place together for years, gathered round the despairing old mother, whose agony was pitiful to see. "Couldn't dey leave me one 1 Mas'r allcrs said I should |
