DR. HUMPHRIES BUYS A SLAVE AND BRINGS HOME NEWS.


A few days after Mrs. Wentworth had sold her last piece of furniture,
Dr. Humphries was walking along one of the principal streets in
Jackson when he was stopped by a crowd that had gathered in front of
an auction mart. On walking up he learned that it was a sheriff's sale
of a "likely young negro girl." Remembering that Emma had requested
him to purchase a girl as a waiting maid for her, he examined the
slave and found her in all respects the kind of house servant he
desired. Going up to the auctioneer who had just mounted a bench for
the purpose of selling the slave, he enquired where she had come from.
The auctioneer responded by handing the doctor a small hand bill
setting forth the sale. After reading it he walked up to the slave and
commenced to question her.

"What is your name?" he enquired.

"Elsy, sir," she replied.

"You say that you come from New Orleans," he continued.

"Yes, sir," she responded.

"What was your master's name?" asked the doctor.

"His name is Mr. Alfred Wentworth," the negro answered.

"Where is your master now?" he enquired, continuing his questions.