As to the auctioneer, and the separation of the marriage
tie by him, how often do you think that an honest black man, for no
crime, is taken from his wife and sold, or she from him? How often, do
you suppose, are families divided and scattered at the auction-block? If
you will inquire, you will find that the cases are extremely rare; that
in some large districts it has not occurred for several years; and that
in other cases, where it has occurred, regard has been had to the
neighborhood of the purchasers, so that members of the same families
have been within reach of one another. You seem to think that a great
feature, and the most common effect, of slavery is to separate families.
Such is the general belief at the North. Let me remind you that there is
no form or condition of service in the world which has more effect than
slavery to keep families together."
"Well," said Mrs. North, dropping her work in her lap, "I never thought
of that before."
"Why," said I, "where will you find in the Free States husband and wife
and children living together as servants in the same family?"
Said Mrs. North, "It is rather uncommon with us to find two sisters
living together as help in a family.
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