An old negress, one of the plantation nurses, is called into
service. She commences the process of preparing them for market.
They are nicely washed, dressed in clean clothes; they shine out as
bright and white as anybody's children. Their heads look so sleek,
their hair is so nicely combed, so nicely parted, so nicely curled.
The old slave loves them,--she loved their father. Her skill has been
lavished upon them,--they look as choice and interesting as the human
property of any democratic gentleman can be expected to do. Let us
be patriotic, let us be law-loving, patient law-abiding citizens,
loving that law of our free country which puts them under the
man-vender's hammer,--say our peace-abiding neighbours.
The gaoler has not been long in getting Annette and Nicholas ready.
He brings them forward, so neatly and prettily dressed: he places
them among the "gang." But they are disputed property: hence all
that ingenuity which the system engenders for the advancement of
dealers is brought into use to defeat the attempt to assert their
freedom. Romescos declares it no difficult matter to do this: he has
the deadly weapon in his possession; he can work (shuffle) the debt
into Graspum's hands, and he can supply the proof to convict. By
this very desirable arrangement the thing may be made nicely
profitable.
No sooner has Aunt Rachel seen the children in their neat and
familiar attire, than her feelings bound with joy,--she cannot longer
restrain them.
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