Двенадцать лет рабства

           Often,atmidnight,whensleephadfledaffrightedfromthecabin,andmysoulwasdisturbedandtroubledwiththecontemplationofmyfate,itwouldsingmeasongofpeace. OnholySabbathdays,whenanhourortwoofleisurewasallowed,itwouldaccompanymetosomequietplaceonthebayoubank,and,liftingupitsvoice,discoursekindlyandpleasantlyindeed. Itheraldedmynameroundthecountry—mademefriends,who,otherwisewouldnothavenoticedme—gavemeanhonoredseatattheyearlyfeasts,andsecuredtheloudestandheartiestwelcomeofthemallattheChristmasdance. TheChristmasdance! Oh,yepleasure-seekingsonsanddaughtersofidleness,whomovewithmeasuredstep,listlessandsnail-like,throughtheslow-windingcotillon,ifyewishtolookuponthecelerity,ifnotthe"poetryofmotion" —upongenuinehappiness,rampantandunrestrained—godowntoLouisiana,andseetheslavesdancinginthestarlightofaChristmasnight. 

           OnthatparticularChristmasIhavenowinmymind,adescriptionwhereofwillserveasadescriptionofthedaygenerally,MissLivelyandMr.Sam,thefirstbelongingtoStewart,thelattertoRoberts,startedtheball. ItwaswellknownthatSamcherishedanardentpassionforLively,asalsodidoneofMarshall’sandanotherofCarey’sboys; forLivelywaslivelyindeed,andaheart-breakingcoquettewithal. ItwasavictoryforSamRoberts,when,risingfromtherepast,shegavehimherhandforthefirst"figure"inpreferencetoeitherofhisrivals.