Двенадцать лет рабства

           Iwascompelledtopickitfromthegroundwhereitwouldfall,nearlyasoftenasfromthestalkwhereithadgrown. Imadehavocalsowiththebranches,loadedwiththeyetunbrokenbolls,thelong,cumbersomesackswingingfromsidetosideinamannernotallowableinthecottonfield. AfteramostlaboriousdayIarrivedatthegin-housewithmyload. Whenthescaledetermineditsweighttobeonlyninety-fivepounds,nothalfthequantityrequiredofthepoorestpicker,Eppsthreatenedtheseverestflogging,butinconsiderationofmybeinga"rawhand,"concludedtopardonmeonthatoccasion. Thefollowingday,andmanydayssucceeding,Ireturnedatnightwithnobettersuccess—Iwasevidentlynotdesignedforthatkindoflabor. Ihadnotthegift—thedexterousfingersandquickmotionofPatsey,whocouldflyalongonesideofarowofcotton,strippingitofitsundefiledandfleecywhitenessmiraculouslyfast. Practiceandwhippingwerealikeunavailing,andEpps,satisfiedofitatlast,sworeIwasadisgrace—thatIwasnotfittoassociatewithacotton-picking"nigger"—thatIcouldnotpickenoughinadaytopaythetroubleofweighingit,andthatIshouldgointothecottonfieldnomore. Iwasnowemployedincuttingandhaulingwood,drawingcottonfromthefieldtothegin-house,andperformedwhateverotherservicewasrequired. Sufficetosay,Iwasneverpermittedtobeidle. 

           Itwasrarelythatadaypassedbywithoutoneormorewhippings.Thisoccurredatthetimethecottonwasweighed.