Двенадцать лет рабства

           Shortlyafterthistimeacircumstanceoccurredthatcamenighdivulgingthesecretofmyrealnameandhistory,whichIhadsolongandcarefullyconcealed,anduponwhichIwasconvinceddependedmyfinalescape. Soonafterhepurchasedme,EppsaskedmeifIcouldwriteandread,andonbeinginformedthatIhadreceivedsomeinstructioninthosebranchesofeducation,heassuredme,withemphasis,ifheevercaughtmewithabook,orwithpenandink,hewouldgivemeahundredlashes. Hesaidhewantedmetounderstandthathebought"niggers"toworkandnottoeducate. Heneverinquiredawordofmypastlife,orfromwhenceIcame. Themistress,however,cross-examinedmefrequentlyaboutWashington,whichshesupposedwasmynativecity,andmorethanonceremarkedthatIdidnottalknoractliketheother"niggers,"andshewassureIhadseenmoreoftheworldthanIadmitted. 

           Mygreatobjectalwayswastoinventmeansofgettingalettersecretlyintothepost-office,directedtosomeofmyfriendsorfamilyattheNorth. Thedifficultyofsuchanachievementcannotbecomprehendedbyoneunacquaintedwiththesevererestrictionsimposeduponme. Inthefirstplace,Iwasdeprivedofpen,ink,andpaper. Inthesecondplace,aslavecannotleavehisplantationwithoutapass,norwillapost-mastermailaletterforonewithoutwritteninstructionsfromhisowner.