Дванадцять років рабства

           OldAbramwasakind-heartedbeing—asortofpatriarchamongus,fondofentertaininghisyoungerbrethrenwithgraveandseriousdiscourse. Hewasdeeplyversedinsuchphilosophyasistaughtinthecabinoftheslave;butthegreatabsorbinghobbyofUncleAbramwasGeneralJackson,whomhisyoungmasterinTennesseehadfollowedtothewars. Helovedtowanderback,inimagination,totheplacewherehewasborn,andtorecountthescenesofhisyouthduringthosestirringtimeswhenthenationwasinarms. Hehadbeenathletic,andmorekeenandpowerfulthanthegeneralityofhisrace,butnowhiseyehadbecomedim,andhisnaturalforceabated. Veryoften,indeed,whilediscussingthebestmethodofbakingthehoe-cake,orexpatiatingatlargeuponthegloryofJackson,hewouldforgetwherehelefthishat,orhishoe,orhisbasket;andthenwouldtheoldmanbelaughedat,ifEppswasabsent,andwhippedifhewaspresent. Sowasheperplexedcontinually,andsighedtothinkthathewasgrowingagedandgoingtodecay. PhilosophyandJacksonandforgetfulnesshadplayedthemischiefwithhim,anditwasevidentthatallofthemcombinedwerefastbringingdownthegrayhairsofUncleAbramtothegrave. 

           AuntPhebehadbeenanexcellentfieldhand,butlatterlywasputintothekitchen,wheresheremained,exceptoccasionally,inatimeofuncommonhurry. Shewasaslyoldcreature,andwhennotinthepresenceofhermistressorhermaster,wasgarrulousintheextreme.