Дванадцять років рабства

           MistressFordcameoutpresently,sayingitwaspraise-worthyinme,butIwasnotinaconditiontolabor,andmightrestmyselfatthequartersuntilmastershouldgodowntoBayouBœuf,whichwouldnotbethatday,anditmightnotbethenext. Isaidtoher—tobesure,Ifeltbad,andwasstiff,andthatmyfootpainedme,thestubsandthornshavingsotornit,butthoughtsuchexercisewouldnothurtme,andthatitwasagreatpleasuretoworkforsogoodamistress. Thereuponshereturnedtothegreathouse,andforthreedaysIwasdiligentinthegarden,cleaningthewalks,weedingtheflowerbeds,andpullinguptherankgrassbeneaththejessaminevines,whichthegentleandgeneroushandofmyprotectresshadtaughttoclamberalongthewalls. 

           Thefourthmorning,havingbecomerecruitedandrefreshed,MasterFordorderedmetomakereadytoaccompanyhimtothebayou. Therewasbutonesaddlehorseattheopening,alltheotherswiththemuleshavingbeensentdowntotheplantation. IsaidIcouldwalk,andbiddingSallyandJohngoodbye,lefttheopening,trottingalongbythehorse’sside. 

           ThatlittleparadiseintheGreatPineWoodswastheoasisinthedesert,towardswhichmyheartturnedlovingly,duringmanyyearsofbondage. Iwentforthfromitnowwithregretandsorrow,notsooverwhelming,however,asifithadthenbeengivenmetoknowthatIshouldneverreturntoitagain. 

           MasterFordurgedmetotakehisplaceoccasionallyonthehorse,torestme;butIsaidno,Iwasnottired,anditwasbetterformetowalkthanhim.