"In that pile of irons by the door," I replied.

One said, in a low tone, "Dat's Uncle Tim's collar."

"Yes, missus, dat is iron collar to wear on de neck."

"But you see it is fastened with heavy iron rivets."

"Yes, de way you see it is 'case Massa George Ralston order Uncle
Tim's head cut off to get de collar."

"I want this collar," I said, "and another heavy iron a woman called a
knee-stiffener. This plantation is confiscated, and these irons
belong to you as much as to any body. Will you give them to me?"

Each seemed to wait for the others to speak, but the one to whom I had
mostly directed my conversation at length replied:

"I reckon you can have 'em; for we's had all we wants ov 'em."

"I thank you; and if you can find any other slave-irons in that pile I
wish you would pick them out for me to take home to Michigan, to show
what sort of jewelry the colored people had to wear down here."

They turned over the heap, and found iron horns, hand-cuffs, etc., and
explained how they were worn. They showed me also where the iron rod
upon which was suspended a bell was cut off of Uncle Tim's collar.

Among the group was a crippled man walking with two canes, clad in