Thirty Years a Slave | Page 3

was the cook in
the Reid household. She was very kind to me and always spoke
consolingly to me, especially if I had been blue, and had had one of my
fits of crying. At these times she would always bake me an ash cake for
supper, saying to me; "My child, don't cry; 'Aunt Sylvia' will look after
you." This ash cake was made of corn meal and water, a little salt to
make it palatable, and was baked by putting it between cabbage leaves
and covering it with hot ashes. A sweeter or more delicious cake one
could not desire, and it was common upon the tables of all the Virginia
farmers. I always considered it a great treat to get one of these cakes
from "Aunt Sylvia."
The appellations of "aunt" and "uncle" for the older slaves were not
only common among the blacks, but the whites also addressed them in
the same way.
* * * * *

ON THE AUCTION BLOCK
I was sick a great deal--in fact, I had suffered with chills and fever ever
since Mr. Reid bought me. He, therefore, concluded to sell me, and, in
November, 1844, he took me back to Richmond, placing me in the
Exchange building, or auction rooms, for the sale of slaves. The sales
were carried on in a large hall where those interested in the business sat
around a large block or stand, upon which the slave to be sold was
placed, the auctioneer standing beside him. When I was placed upon
the block, a Mr. McGee came up and felt of me and asked me what I
could do. "You look like a right smart nigger," said he, "Virginia
always produces good darkies." Virginia was the mother of slavery, and
it was held by many that she had the best slaves. So when Mr. McGee
found I was born and bred in that state he seemed satisfied. The bidding
commenced, and I remember well when the auctioneer said; "Three
hundred eighty dollars--once, twice and sold to Mr. Edward McGee."
He was a rich cotton planter of Pontotoc, Miss. As near as I can
recollect, I was not more than twelve years of age, so did not sell for
very much.
* * * * *
PRICE OF SLAVES.
Servant women sold for $500 to $700, and sometimes as high as $800
when possessing extra qualifications. A house maid, bright in looks,
strong and well formed, would sell for $1,000 to $1,200. Bright mulatto
girls, well versed in sewing and knitting, would sometimes bring as
high as $1,800, especially if a Virginian or a Kentuckian. Good
blacksmiths sold for $1,600 to $1,800. When the slaves were put upon
the block they were always sold to the highest bidder. Mr. McGee, or
"Boss," as I soon learned to call him, bought sixty other slaves before
he bought me, and they were started in a herd for Atlanta, Ga., on foot.
* * * * *
STARTED FOR A COTTON PLANTATION.

Boss, myself and ten others met them there. We then started for
Pontotoc, Miss. On our way we stopped at Edenton, Ga., where Boss
sold twenty-one of the sixty slaves. We then proceeded on our way,
Boss by rail and we on foot, or in the wagon. We went about twenty
miles a day. I remember, as we passed along, every white man we met
was yelling, "Hurrah for Polk and Dallas!" They were feeling good, for
election had given them the men that they wanted. The man who had us
in charge joined with those we met in the hurrahing. We were afraid to
ask them the reason for their yelling, as that would have been regarded
as an impertinence, and probably would have caused us all to be
whipped.
* * * * *
MY MISSISSIPPI HOME.
At length, after a long and wearisome journey, we reached Pontotoc,
McGee's home, on Christmas eve. Boss took me into the house and into
the sitting room, where all the family were assembled, and presented
me as a Christmas gift to the madam, his wife.
My boss, as I remember him, was a tall, raw-boned man, but rather
distinguished in looks, with a fine carriage, brilliant in intellect, and
considered one of the wealthiest and most successful planters of his
time. Mrs. McGee was a handsome, stately lady, about thirty years of
age, brunette in complexion, faultless in figure and imperious in
manner. I think that they were of Scotch descent. There were four
children, Emma, Willie, Johnnie and Jimmie. All looked at me, and
thought I was "a spry little fellow." I was very shy and did not say
much, as everything was strange to me. I was put to sleep that night on
a pallet on the