Двенадцать лет рабства

           Then,too,"ofalldaysi’theyear,"theyarraythemselvesintheirbestattire. Thecottoncoathasbeenwashedclean,thestumpofatallowcandlehasbeenappliedtotheshoes,andifsofortunateastopossessarimlessoracrownlesshat,itisplacedjauntilyonthehead. Theyarewelcomedwithequalcordiality,however,iftheycomebare-headedandbarefootedtothefeast. Asageneralthing,thewomenwearhandkerchiefstiedabouttheirheads,butifchancehasthrownintheirwayafieryredribbon,oracast-offbonnetoftheirmistress’grandmother,itissuretobewornonsuchoccasions. Red—thedeepbloodred—isdecidedlythefavoritecoloramongtheenslaveddamselsofmyacquaintance. Ifaredribbondoesnotencircletheneck,youwillbecertaintofindallthehairoftheirwoollyheadstiedupwithredstringsofonesortoranother. 

           Thetableisspreadintheopenair,andloadedwithvarietiesofmeatandpilesofvegetables. Baconandcornmealatsuchtimesaredispensedwith. Sometimesthecookingisperformedinthekitchenontheplantation,atothersintheshadeofwidebranchingtrees. Inthelattercase,aditchisdugintheground,andwoodlaidinandburneduntilitisfilledwithglowingcoals,overwhichchickens,ducks,turkeys,pigs,andnotunfrequentlytheentirebodyofawildox,areroasted. Theyarefurnishedalsowithflour,ofwhichbiscuitsaremade,andoftenwithpeachandotherpreserves,withtarts,andeverymanneranddescriptionofpies,exceptthemince,thatbeinganarticleofpastryasyetunknownamongthem.