‘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.’ ‘And fifty! My dear sir, do me a favor, and say at once two thousand. And fifty--and fifty! Ten hundred and fifty dollars!’ ‘Eleven hundred.’ ‘Eleven hundred! Too little yet.’ ‘Twenty dollars more.’ ‘Sir? Twenty dol----. Pardon, excuse me, if I am truly astonished to hear a gentleman bid twenty dollars for Harvey, the American Hercules! Twenty hundred I would like it better.’ ‘Twelve hundred and fifty.’ ‘There is a generous gentleman! Sir, take my best wishes for your welfare! Twelve hundred and fifty dollars----’ ‘And fifty.’ ‘Still better! And fifty! One thousand three hundred dollars!’ ‘Fourteen hundred.’ ‘Fourteen--thank you, sir, thank you! Fourteen hundred dollars! Fourteen hundred! Fourteen---- Gentlemen, bid more, if you please! Fourteen hundred dollars for Harvey are nothing. Fourteen----’ ‘And fifty.’ ‘Fourteen hundred and fifty dollars for a boy who is worth two thousand! Gentlemen, here is a good chance to improve property! Whoever will buy Harvey, shall own a fortune. Who is going to bid more? Fourteen--fourteen hundred and fifty dollars--going? One thousand four hundred and fifty dollars--dollars--dollars! Who will bid more? Nobody? Nobody more? Fourteen hundred and fifty dollars for the negro boy Harvey, the best field hand and the most gentle boy amongst all the darkeys in the United States! Going--for the first--second--who will say more? Fourteen hundred and fifty dollars--going--going--going--gone!’ ‘Go off, Harvey! Hurry yourself! Don’t believe your bones are made of sugar and eggs.’ No. 2. Joseph, field hand, aged about seventeen. ‘Gentlemen, there is a young blood, and a capital one! He is a great boy, a hand for almost every thing. Besides, he is the best dancer in the whole lot, and he knows also how to pray--oh! so beautifully, you would believe he was made to be a minister! How much will you bid for him?’ ‘One thousand dollars.’ ‘Good--but that is not half the price he is really worth. Gentlemen, if you will bid two thousand at once, it may not suffice to buy him. One thousand dollars for a boy, who will be worth in three years fully twenty-five hundred dollars cash down. Who is going to bid two thousand?’ ‘Twelve hundred dollars.’ ‘Twelve hundred dollars! Sir, I did say, he would soon bring two thousand. I am always pretty near certain of what I say. Twelve hundred for Joseph! Splendid fellow that! Eleven hundred and eighty dollars more than for his namesake of old in the land of Egypt. Twelve hundred dollars! Gentlemen, bid more!’ ‘Twelve hundred and fifty dollars.’ ‘One thousand two hundred and fifty dollars! All right; but more! more! more!’ ‘And fifty.’