Дванадцять років рабства

           Eppsinterestedhimselfinhisbehalf,accompanyinghimtoMarksville,andonalloccasionsloudlyjustifyinghim,buthisservicesinthisrespectdidnotafterwardsdeterakinsmanofthissameMarshallfromseekinghislifealso. Abrawloccurredbetweenthemoveragambling-table,whichterminatedinadeadlyfeud. Ridinguponhorsebackinfrontofthehouseoneday,armedwithpistolsandbowieknife,Marshallchallengedhimtocomeforthandmakeafinalsettlementofthequarrel,orhewouldbrandhimasacoward,andshoothimlikeadogthefirstopportunity. Notthroughcowardice,norfromanyconscientiousscruples,inmyopinion,butthroughtheinfluenceofhiswife,hewasrestrainedfromacceptingthechallengeofhisenemy. Areconciliation,however,waseffectedafterward,sincewhichtimetheyhavebeenontermsoftheclosestintimacy. 

           Suchoccurrences,whichwouldbringuponthepartiesconcernedinthemmeritedandcondignpunishmentintheNorthernStates,arefrequentonthebayou,andpasswithoutnotice,andalmostwithoutcomment. Everymancarrieshisbowieknife,andwhentwofallout,theysettoworkhackingandthrustingateachother,morelikesavagesthancivilizedandenlightenedbeings. 

           TheexistenceofSlaveryinitsmostcruelformamongthem,hasatendencytobrutalizethehumaneandfinerfeelingsoftheirnature.