No. 1. Harvey, field hand, about twenty years old. ‘Come up here, my boy! There you are—bon! A capital boy! Ladies and gentlemen, look here at this healthy child! Can any darkey upon God’s beautiful earth beat him? Wouldn’t he whip Hercules, if that personage should happen to be present? What a splendid fellow he is! The gentleman who will buy Harvey will draw a lucky number. Who is going to bid? Go ahead, gentlemen! Here is a capital opportunity.’
‘Eight hundred dollars.’
‘Pshaw! Eight hundred dollars? Why, twice as much shall never buy him; he is fully worth two thousand dollars. Who will bid more?’
‘Nine hundred.’
‘Nine hundred dollars is no money for such a fellow, and if you will pay every picayune twice, you can’t get him! Nine hundred for Harvey? Gentlemen, you have had, probably, bad news to-day; or is the news confirmed, and has the California steamer foundered? They say so, but do not believe a word of it. I say it is safe! Nine hundred dollars for Harvey!’
‘And fifty.’
‘Nine hundred and fifty dollars for Harvey, the most likely boy in the noble and fair State of Louisiana! Ain’t it too bad? Who bids more?’
‘One thousand!’
‘Well, a little better! Go on, gentlemen, if you please. One thousand—one thousand—one thousand dollars.’
‘And fifty.’