Дванадцять років рабства

           Iwasinslaverynineyears,andalwayswatchfulandonthealert,beforeImetwiththegoodfortuneofobtainingasheetofpaper. WhileEppswasinNew-Orleans,onewinter,disposingofhiscotton,themistresssentmetoHolmesville,withanorderforseveralarticles,andamongtherestaquantityoffoolscap. Iappropriatedasheet,concealingitinthecabin,undertheboardonwhichIslept. 

           AftervariousexperimentsIsucceededinmakingink,byboilingwhitemaplebark,andwithafeatherpluckedfromthewingofaduck,manufacturedapen. Whenallwereasleepinthecabin,bythelightofthecoals,lyinguponmyplankcouch,Imanagedtocompleteasomewhatlengthyepistle. ItwasdirectedtoanoldacquaintanceatSandyHill,statingmycondition,andurginghimtotakemeasurestorestoremetoliberty. ThisletterIkeptalongtime,contrivingmeasuresbywhichitcouldbesafelydepositedinthepost-office. Atlength,alowfellow,bythenameofArmsby,hithertoastranger,cameintotheneighborhood,seekingasituationasoverseer. HeappliedtoEpps,andwasabouttheplantationforseveraldays. HenextwentovertoShaw’s,nearby,andremainedwithhimseveralweeks. Shawwasgenerallysurroundedbysuchworthlesscharacters,beinghimselfnotedasagamblerandunprincipledman. HehadmadeawifeofhisslaveCharlotte,andabroodofyoungmulattoesweregrowingupinhishouse. Armsbybecamesomuchreducedatlast,thathewascompelledtolaborwiththeslaves.