Двенадцать лет рабства

           Onlytheslavewhohaslivedalltheyearsonhisscantyallowanceofmealandbacon,canappreciatesuchsuppers. Whitepeopleingreatnumbersassembletowitnessthegastronomicalenjoyments. 

           Theyseatthemselvesattherustictable—themalesononeside,thefemalesontheother. Thetwobetweenwhomtheremayhavebeenanexchangeoftenderness,invariablymanagetositopposite;fortheomnipresentCupiddisdainsnottohurlhisarrowsintothesimpleheartsofslaves. Unalloyedandexultinghappinesslightsupthedarkfacesofthemall. Theivoryteeth,contrastingwiththeirblackcomplexions,exhibittwolong,whitestreaksthewholeextentofthetable. Allroundthebountifulboardamultitudeofeyesrollinecstacy. Gigglingandlaughterandtheclatteringofcutleryandcrockerysucceed. Cuffee’selbowhuncheshisneighbor’sside,impelledbyaninvoluntaryimpulseofdelight;NellyshakesherfingeratSamboandlaughs,sheknowsnotwhy,andsothefunandmerrimentflowson. 

           Whentheviandshavedisappeared,andthehungrymawsofthechildrenoftoilaresatisfied,then,nextintheorderofamusement,istheChristmasdance. Mybusinessonthesegaladaysalwayswastoplayontheviolin. TheAfricanraceisamusic-lovingone,proverbially;andmanytherewereamongmyfellow-bondsmenwhoseorgansoftunewerestrikinglydeveloped,andwhocouldthumbthebanjowithdexterity; butattheexpenseofappearingegotistical,Imust,nevertheless,declare,thatIwasconsideredtheOleBullofBayouBœuf.