You certainly do not know the value of the article you are bidding on.

Here, gentlemen, I hold in my hand a paper certifying that she has a good moral character." "Seven hundred." "Ah, gentlemen, that is something like.

This paper also states that she is very intelligent." "Eight hundred." "She was first sprinkled, then immersed, and is now warranted to be a devoted Christian, and perfectly trustworthy." "Nine hundred dollars." "Nine hundred and fifty." "One thousand." "Eleven hundred." Here the bidding came to a dead stand.

The auctioneer stopped, looked around, and began in a rough manner to relate some anecdote connected with the sale of slaves, which he said had come under his own observation.
At this juncture the scene was indeed a most striking one.

The laughing, joking, swearing, smoking, spitting, and talking, kept up a continual hum and confusion among the crowd, while the slave-girl stood with tearful eyes, looking alternately at her mother and sister and toward the young man whom she hoped would become her purchaser.
"The chastity of this girl," now continued the auctioneer, "is pure.
She has never been from under her mother's care.