Дванадцять років рабства

           Thenitbehoovedtheslavestobewatchfulandexceedingwary. Thefirstonewhocamewithinreachfeltthesmartofhislash. Sometimesforhourshewouldkeepthemrunninginalldirections,dodgingaroundthecornersofthecabins. Occasionallyhewouldcomeupononeunawares,andifhesucceededininflictingafair,roundblow,itwasafeatthatmuchdelightedhim. Theyoungerchildren,andtheaged,whohadbecomeinactive,sufferedthen. Inthemidstoftheconfusionhewouldslilytakehisstandbehindacabin,waitingwithraisedwhip,todashitintothefirstblackfacethatpeepedcautiouslyaroundthecorner. 

           Atothertimeshewouldcomehomeinalessbrutalhumor. Thentheremustbeamerry-making. Thenallmustmovetothemeasureofatune. ThenMasterEppsmustneedsregalehismelodiousearswiththemusicofafiddle. Thendidhebecomebuoyant,elastic,gaily"trippingthelightfantastictoe"aroundthepiazzaandallthroughthehouse. 

           Tibeats,atthetimeofmysale,hadinformedhimIcouldplayontheviolin. HehadreceivedhisinformationfromFord. ThroughtheimportunitiesofMistressEpps,herhusbandhadbeeninducedtopurchasemeoneduringavisittoNew-Orleans. FrequentlyIwascalledintothehousetoplaybeforethefamily,mistressbeingpassionatelyfondofmusic. 

           Allofuswouldbeassembledinthelargeroomofthegreathouse,wheneverEppscamehomeinoneofhisdancingmoods. Nomatterhowwornoutandtiredwewere,theremustbeageneraldance. Whenproperlystationedonthefloor,Iwouldstrikeupatune.