He speaks, having first adjusted his spectacles, and
relieved himself of three troublesome coughs. "The institution-I
mean, gentlemen, the peculiar institution-must be preserved; we
cannot, must not, violate statutes to accommodate good-feeling
people. My friend Graspum is right, bob and sinker; we'd get
ourselves into an everlasting snarl, if we did. I am done!" The
sheriff withdraws his spectacles, places them very carefully in a
little case, wipes his mouth modestly, and walks away humming an
air.
"Now, gentlemen," says the vender, bristling with renewed animation
"seeing how you've all recovered from a small shock of conscience,
we will commence the sale."
Aunt Rachel is now placed upon the stand. Her huge person, cleanly
appearance-Auntie has got her bandana tied with exquisite knot-and
very motherly countenance excite general admiration, as on an
elevated stand she looms up before her audience. Mr. Forshou, the
very gentlemanly vender, taking up the paper, proceeds to describe
Aunt Rachel's qualities, according to the style and manner of a
celebrated race-horse. Auntie doesn't like this,--her dignity is
touched; she honours him with an angry frown. Then she appeals to
the amiable gentleman; "come, mas'r, sell 'um quick; don' hab no
nonsense wid dis child! Sell 'um to some mas'r what make I
housekeeper. Old mas'r,--good old Boss,--know I fus' rate at dat. Let
'um done gone, mas'r, fo'h soon." Rachel is decidedly opposed to
long drawn-out humbuggery.
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