Дванадцять років рабства

           Itwassewedupbythemistress,whocensuredherhusbandwithextremeseverity,notonlydenouncinghisinhumanity, butdeclaringthatsheexpectednothingelsethanthathewouldbringthefamilytopoverty—thathewouldkillalltheslavesontheplantationinsomeofhisdrunkenfits. 

           ItwasnouncommonthingwithhimtoprostrateAuntPhebewithachairorstickofwood;butthemostcruelwhippingthateverIwasdoomedtowitness—oneIcanneverrecallwithanyotheremotionthanthatofhorror—wasinflictedontheunfortunatePatsey. 

           IthasbeenseenthatthejealousyandhatredofMistressEppsmadethedailylifeofheryoungandagileslavecompletelymiserable. IamhappyinthebeliefthatonnumerousoccasionsIwasthemeansofavertingpunishmentfromtheinoffensivegirl. InEpps’absencethemistressoftenorderedmetowhipherwithouttheremotestprovocation. Iwouldrefuse,sayingthatIfearedmymaster’sdispleasure,andseveraltimesventuredtoremonstratewithheragainstthetreatmentPatseyreceived. Iendeavoredtoimpressherwiththetruththatthelatterwasnotresponsiblefortheactsofwhichshecomplained,butthatshebeingaslave,andsubjectentirelytohermaster’swill,healonewasanswerable. 

           Atlength"thegreen-eyedmonster"creptintothesoulofEppsalso,andthenitwasthathejoinedwithhiswrathfulwifeinaninfernaljubileeoverthegirl’smiseries. 

           OnaSabbathdayinhoeingtime,notlongago,wewereonthebayoubank,washingourclothes,aswasourusualcustom. PresentlyPatseywasmissing.