Дванадцять років рабства

           Ikeptmycorninasmallwoodenbox,themealinagourd; and,bytheway,thegourdisoneofthemostconvenientandnecessaryutensilsonaplantation. Besidessupplyingtheplaceofallkindsofcrockeryinaslavecabin,itisusedforcarryingwatertothefields. Another,also,containsthedinner. Itdispenseswiththenecessityofpails,dippers,basins,andsuchtinandwoodensuperfluitiesaltogether. 

           Whenthecornisground,andfireismade,thebaconistakendownfromthenailonwhichithangs,aslicecutoffandthrownuponthecoalstobroil. Themajorityofslaveshavenoknife,muchlessafork. Theycuttheirbaconwiththeaxeatthewood-pile. Thecornmealismixedwithalittlewater,placedinthefire,andbaked. Whenitis"donebrown,"theashesarescrapedoff,andbeingplaceduponachip,whichanswersforatable,thetenantoftheslavehutisreadytositdownuponthegroundtosupper. Bythistimeitisusuallymidnight. Thesamefearofpunishmentwithwhichtheyapproachthegin-house,possessesthemagainonlyingdowntogetasnatchofrest. Itisthefearofoversleepinginthemorning. Suchanoffencewouldcertainlybeattendedwithnotlessthantwentylashes. Withaprayerthathemaybeonhisfeetandwideawakeatthefirstsoundofthehorn,hesinkstohisslumbersnightly. 

           Thesoftestcouchesintheworldarenottobefoundinthelogmansionoftheslave. TheonewhereonIreclinedyearafteryear,wasaplanktwelveincheswideandtenfeetlong. Mypillowwasastickofwood.