Дванадцять років рабства

           Sometimesthecurrentofherwrathturneduponhimwhomshehadjustcausetohate. Butthestormofangrywordswouldpassoveratlength,andtherewouldbeaseasonofcalmagain. AtsuchtimesPatseytrembledwithfear,andcriedasifherheartwouldbreak,forsheknewfrompainfulexperience,thatifmistressshouldworkherselftothered-hotpitchofrage,EppswouldquietheratlastwithapromisethatPatseyshouldbeflogged—apromisehewassuretokeep. Thusdidpride,andjealousy,andvengeancewarwithavariceandbrute-passioninthemansionofmymaster,fillingitwithdailytumultandcontention. Thus,upontheheadofPatsey—thesimple-mindedslave,inwhoseheartGodhadimplantedtheseedsofvirtue—theforceofallthesedomestictempestsspentitselfatlast. 

           DuringthesummersucceedingmyreturnfromSt.Mary’sparish,Iconceivedaplanofprovidingmyselfwithfood,which,thoughsimple,succeededbeyondexpectation. Ithasbeenfollowedbymanyothersinmycondition,upanddownthebayou,andofsuchbenefithasitbecomethatIamalmostpersuadedtolookuponmyselfasabenefactor. Thatsummerthewormsgotintothebacon. Nothingbutravenoushungercouldinduceustoswallowit. Theweeklyallowanceofmealscarcelysufficedtosatisfyus. Itwascustomarywithus,asitiswithallinthatregion,wheretheallowanceisexhaustedbeforeSaturdaynight,orisinsuchastateastorenderitnauseousanddisgusting,tohuntintheswampsforcoonandopossum.