Двенадцать лет рабства

           "IcanscarcelycomprehendthenicedistinctionsandshadesofpoliticalpartiesinyourState,"observedMr.Waddill. "Ireadofsoft-shellsandhard-shells,hunkersandbarnburners,woolly-headsandsilver-grays,andamunabletounderstandtheprecisedifferencebetweenthem. Pray,whatisit?" 

           Mr.Northup,re-fillinghispipe,enteredintoquiteanelaboratenarrativeoftheoriginofthevarioussectionsofparties,andconcludedbysayingtherewasanotherpartyinNew-York,knownasfree-soilersorabolitionists. "Youhaveseennoneofthoseinthispartofthecountry,Ipresume?"Mr.Northupremarked. 

           "Never,butone,"answeredWaddill,laughingly. "WehaveonehereinMarksville,aneccentriccreature,whopreachesabolitionismasvehementlyasanyfanaticattheNorth. Heisagenerous,inoffensiveman,butalwaysmaintainingthewrongsideofanargument. Itaffordsusadealofamusement. Heisanexcellentmechanic,andalmostindispensableinthiscommunity. Heisacarpenter. HisnameisBass." 

           Somefurthergood-naturedconversationwashadattheexpenseofBass’peculiarities,whenWaddillallatoncefellintoareflectivemood,andaskedforthemysteriousletteragain. 

           "Letmesee—l-e-tm-es-e-e!"herepeated,thoughtfullytohimself,runninghiseyesovertheletteroncemore. "’BayouBœuf,August15.’August15—post-markedhere. ’Hethatiswritingforme—’WheredidBassworklastsummer?"heinquired,turningsuddenlytohisbrother.