BUSINESS CONVERSATION.

3

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

'Now, Jim, walk like old Uncle Cudjoe when he has the rheumątism," said his master.

Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance of deformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his master's stick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawn into a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man.

Both gentlemen laughed uproariously.

"Now, Jim," said his master, "show us how old Elder Robbins leads the psalm."

The boy drew his chubby face down to a formidable length, and commenced toning a psalm-tune through his nose with imperturbable gravity.

"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-I will. 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 quadroon woman, apparently about twenty-five, entered the room.

There needed only a glance from the child to her, to identify her as its mother. There was the same rich, ful, dark eye, with its long lashes; the same ripples of silky black hair. The brown of her complexion gave way on the cheek to a perceptible flush, which deepened as she saw the gaze of the strange man fixed upon her in bold and undisguised admiration. Her dress was of the neatest possible fit, and set off to advantage her finely-moulded shape. A delicately-formed hand, and a trim foot and ankle, 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 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 an article now! 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, dryly; and, seeking to turn the conversation, he uncorked a bottle of fresh wine, and asked his companion's opinion of it.

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Capital, sir-first chop!" said the trader; then turning, and slapping his hand familiarly on Shelby's shoulder, he added, "Come, how will you trade about the girl? what shall I say for her? what'll you take? "Mr. Haley, she is not to be sold." said Shelby; "my wife would not part with her for her weight in gold."

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

4

THE HUMANE THING.

"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?" said the trader; "you must own 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 the business wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy articles entirely-sell for waiters, and so on, to rich 'uns, that can pay for handsome 'uns. It sets off one of yer great places-a real handsome boy to open door, wait, and tend. They fetch a good sum; and this little devil is such a comical, musical concern, he's just the article."

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

"Oh, you do?-La! yes-something of that ar natur. I understand perfectly. It is mighty onpleasant gettin' on with women sometimes. I al'ays hates these_yer screechin', screamin' times. They are mighty onpleasant; but, as I manages business, I generally avoids them, sir. Now, what if you get the girl off for a day, or a week, or so; then the thing's done quietly,-all over before she comes home. Your wife might get her some earrings, or a new gown, or some such truck, to make up with her."

"I'm afraid not."

"Lor bless ye, yes! These critters an'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 is hardening to the feelings; but I never found it so. Fact is, I never could 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 up to sell, and she screechin' like mad all the time;-very bad policydamages the article-makes 'em quite unfit for service sometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort of handling. The fellow that was trading for her didn't want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort when her blood was up. I tell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to think 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 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 his arm, with an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himself a second Wilberforce.

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

"It don't look well, now, for a feller to be praisin' himself; but I say it jest because it's the truth. I believe I'm reckoned to bring in about the finest droves of niggers 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

TOM LOCKER'S SYSTEM.

5

case-fat and likely, and I lose as few as 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 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've stuck to 'em, and realised well on 'em; yes, sir, they have paid their passage, I may say ;" and the trader laughed at his joke.

There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations of humanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company. Perhaps you laugh too, dear reader; but you know humanity comes out in a variety of strange forms now-a-days, and there is no 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; he was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil with niggers-on principle 'twas, you see, for a better-hearted feller never broke bread; 'twas his 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 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 cryin',' says I; 'it's natur,' says I, and if natur can't blow off one way, it will another. Besides, Tom,' says I, 'it jest spiles your gals; they get sickly and down in the mouth; and sometimes they gets ugly particular yallow 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 heap further 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 spiled so many for me, that I had to break off with him, though he was a good-hearted fellow, and as fair a business hand as is goin'."

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

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Why, yes, sir, I may so. You see, when I anyways can, I takes a leetle care about the 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 it's clean done, and can't be helped, they naturally get used to it. "Tan't, you know, as if it was white folks, 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'n't no kind of '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 'taint 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 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 chop-fallen in a place where some of your plantation niggers would be singing and whooping like

4

THE HUMANE THING.

"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?" said the trader; "you must own 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 the business wants to buy up handsome boys to raise for the market. Fancy articles entirely-sell for waiters, and so on, to rich 'uns, that can pay for handsome 'uns. It sets off one of yer great places-a real handsome boy to open door, wait, and tend. They fetch a good sum; and this little devil is such a comical, musical concern, he's just the article." "the

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

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

"I'm afraid not."

"Lor bless ye, yes! These critters an'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 is hardening to the feelings; but I never found it so. Fact is, I never could 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 up to sell, and she screechin' like mad all the time;-very bad policydamages the article-makes 'em quite unfit for service sometimes. I knew a real handsome gal once, in Orleans, as was entirely ruined by this sort of handling. The fellow that was trading for her didn't want her baby; and she was one of your real high sort when her blood was up. I tell you, she squeezed up her child in her arms, and talked, and went on real awful. It kinder makes my blood run cold to think 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 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 his arm, with an air of virtuous decision, apparently considering himself a second Wilberforce.

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

"It don't look well, now, for a feller to be praisin' himself; but I say it jest because it's the truth. I believe I'm reckoned to bring in about the finest droves of niggers 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

TOM LOCKER'S SYSTEM.

5

case-fat and likely, and I lose as few as 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 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've stuck to 'em, and realised well on 'em; yes, sir, they have paid their passage, I may say ;" and the trader laughed at his joke.

There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations or humanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company. Perhaps you laugh too, dear reader; but you know humanity comes out in a variety of strange forms now-a-days, and there is no 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; he was a clever fellow, Tom was, only the very devil with niggers-on principle 'twas, you see, for a better-hearted feller never broke bread; 'twas his 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 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 cryin',' says I; 'it's natur,' says I, and if natur can't blow off one way, it will another. Besides, Tom,' says I, 'it jest spiles your gals; they get sickly and down in the mouth; and sometimes they gets ugly-particular yallow 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 heap further 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 spiled so many for me, that I had to break off with him, though he was a good-hearted fellow, and as fair a business hand as is goin'."

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

66

Why, yes, sir, I may so. You see, when I anyways can, I takes a leetle care about the 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 it's clean done, and can't be helped, they naturally get used to it. "Tan't, you know, as if it was white folks, 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'n't no kind of '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 'taint 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 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 chop-fallen in a place where some of your plantation niggers would be singing and whooping like