Двенадцать лет рабства

           Imusttoildayafterday,endureabuseandtauntsandscoffs,sleeponthehardground,liveonthecoarsestfare,andnotonlythis,butlivetheslaveofablood-seekingwretch,ofwhomImuststandhenceforthincontinuedfearanddread. WhyhadInotdiedinmyyoungyears—beforeGodhadgivenmechildrentoloveandlivefor? Whatunhappinessandsufferingandsorrowitwouldhaveprevented. Isighedforliberty;butthebondman’schainwasroundme,andcouldnotbeshakenoff. IcouldonlygazewistfullytowardstheNorth,andthinkofthethousandsofmilesthatstretchedbetweenmeandthesoiloffreedom,overwhichablackfreemanmaynotpass. 

           Tibeats,inthecourseofhalfanhour,walkedovertotheweaving-house,lookedatmesharply,thenreturnedwithoutsayinganything. Mostoftheforenoonhesatonthepiazza,readinganewspaperandconversingwithFord. Afterdinner,thelatterleftforthePineWoods,anditwasindeedwithregretthatIbeheldhimdepartfromtheplantation. 

           OncemoreduringthedayTibeatscametome,gavemesomeorder,andreturned. 

           Duringtheweektheweaving-housewascompleted—Tibeatsinthemeantimemakingnoallusionwhatevertothedifficulty—whenIwasinformedhehadhiredmetoPeterTanner,toworkunderanothercarpenterbythenameofMyers. Thisannouncementwasreceivedwithgratification,asanyplacewasdesirablethatwouldrelievemeofhishatefulpresence. 

           PeterTanner,asthereaderhasalreadybeeninformed,livedontheoppositeshore,andwasthebrotherofMistressFord. HeisoneofthemostextensiveplantersonBayouBœuf,andownsalargenumberofslaves.