Дванадцять років рабства

           This,however,mustbedoneatnight,aftertheday’sworkisaccomplished. Thereareplanterswhoseslaves,formonthsatatime,havenoothermeatthansuchasisobtainedinthismanner. Noobjectionsaremadetohunting,inasmuchasitdispenseswithdraftsuponthesmoke-house,andbecauseeverymaraudingcoonthatiskilledissomuchsavedfromthestandingcorn. Theyarehuntedwithdogsandclubs,slavesnotbeingallowedtheuseoffire-arms. 

           Thefleshofthecoonispalatable,butverilythereisnothinginallbutcherdomsodeliciousasaroasted’possum. Theyarearound,ratherlong-bodied,littleanimal,ofawhitishcolor,withnoselikeapig,andcaudalextremitylikearat. Theyburrowamongtherootsandinthehollowsofthegumtree,andareclumsyandslowofmotion. Theyaredeceitfulandcunningcreatures. Onreceivingtheslightesttapofastick,theywillrolloveronthegroundandfeigndeath. Ifthehunterleaveshim,inpursuitofanother,withoutfirsttakingparticularpainstobreakhisneck,thechancesare,onhisreturn,heisnottobefound. Thelittleanimalhasoutwittedtheenemy—has"played’possum"—andisoff. Butafteralongandhardday’swork,thewearyslavefeelslittlelikegoingtotheswampforhissupper,andhalfthetimeprefersthrowinghimselfonthecabinfloorwithoutit. Itisfortheinterestofthemasterthattheservantshouldnotsufferinhealthfromstarvation,anditisalsoforhisinterestthatheshouldnotbecomegrossfromover-feeding.