Slave Life in Georgia - African American History

Slave Life in Georgia 65
24.03.2006
for him. Bob and I were sent to help in the search, but we never found him; so
Freeman was obliged to "cash up" for him. I remember feeling envious of that
"boy."
Although I had been in the pen now so long, and been put up to sale a good
many times, I had not yet found a purchaser. One reason of this was that Mac
Cargo and Freeman demanded a heavy price for me, but also in some measure
because I did not care to speak up for myself, so that my looks did not
recommend me to buyers. Freeman knew I should fetch a price when the springcrops
came on, as I was a good carpenter, so he was in no hurry at first. But as
the time wore on, and he found I did not go off, he began to suspect the truth,
and he and Mac Cargo got
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angry, and in my hearing said I did not care to try and sell myself, but that if I
did not do so soon, they must make me. I knew very well what that threat
meant. I had used the flopping-paddle to often not to understand; so I thought I
ought to make up my mind now to save my back, by endeavouring to find a
master.
Accordingly I began to draw Bob, and having learnt from him that there would
be buyers from up the Mississippi, in a few days, I determined to pick one out,
if I got the chance. I wanted to go in that direction, for reasons which should be
plain to my readers; and when at last Bob told me the buyers were come, I felt
quite excited with hope, and eager to meet them.
So I was put up again in the auction-room, and I took good care to look my
brightest and answer my smartest. Such a character I gave myself, never a
"nigger" had before. I was careful, however, to draw out the buyers, in order to
learn what they wanted me for; which I judged of by the questions they put to
me. One day a man came in, and I was called out and made to stand in the
middle of the floor. His name was Jepsey James. He was a great, big robust
man, with dark features, and wore a long,
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shabby blanket coat. His countenance was very sour-looking, and I did not at all
like the looks of him. It seems, however, that mine pleased him, so he had me
out, and felt my limbs, and squinted at me till my eyes ached staring back at
him, and asked me all sorts of questions, which I answered quite smartly. At last