Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/181

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
IN HIGH LIFE.
183

to observe how matters got along with this gentleman, who said he was so good to his slaves. There was a very fine, bright mulatto put up to the highest bidder; this gentleman bid for her, but there was another bid against him, and they put the girl up to one thousand dollars. The girl then declared this man need not bid any higher, as she would never serve him; but he said he was determined to have her, and made some threats what he would do. She said she did not like his looks, and that she had been raised by a lady, and always led a virtuous life; and, as there was an understanding between her owner and the seller, that she should not be sold to any one she did not like, the sale was put off till the next day.

On the father of these young ladies going up to them, they said, from what they had heard of the woman, they wished him to buy her, even should he pay twelve hundred for her. The next day the girl was sent up for the young ladies to see. On talking to her a little, they liked her so well they told their father to buy her should it take two thousand; however, he got her for twelve hundred. She was very much pleased with her young mistresses and master, bundled up with a good grace, and went with them.

I did not see her again for some four years, when one day, as I was combing some ladies in the Burnet House, in this city, I heard her voice, and knew it. On going out in the hall I found her there, with a friend of her master, who had sent her up here to be emancipated.

I asked her how she got along, and how she liked the young ladies; she was warm in praise of them, and said she had the first cross word to hear from any