Chapter 6

           Theveryamiable,pious-heartedMr.TheophilusFreeman,partnerorconsigneeofJamesH.Burch,andkeeperoftheslavepeninNew-Orleans,wasoutamonghisanimalsearlyinthemorning. Withanoccasionalkickoftheoldermenandwomen,andmanyasharpcrackofthewhipabouttheearsoftheyoungerslaves,itwasnotlongbeforetheywereallastir,andwideawake. Mr.TheophilusFreemanbustledaboutinaveryindustriousmanner,gettinghispropertyreadyforthesales-room,intending,nodoubt,todothatdayarousingbusiness. 

           Inthefirstplacewewererequiredtowashthoroughly,andthosewithbeards,toshave. Wewerethenfurnishedwithanewsuiteach,cheap,butclean. Themenhadhat,coat,shirt,pantsandshoes;thewomenfrocksofcalico,andhandkerchiefstobindabouttheirheads. Wewerenowconductedintoalargeroominthefrontpartofthebuildingtowhichtheyardwasattached,inordertobeproperlytrained,beforetheadmissionofcustomers. Themenwerearrangedononesideoftheroom,thewomenontheother. Thetallestwasplacedattheheadoftherow,thenthenexttallest,andsoonintheorderoftheirrespectiveheights. Emilywasatthefootofthelineofwomen. Freemanchargedustorememberourplaces;exhortedustoappearsmartandlively,—sometimesthreatening,andagain,holdingoutvariousinducements. Duringthedayheexercisedusintheartof"lookingsmart,"andofmovingtoourplaceswithexactprecision.