Дванадцять років рабства

           Buthisvisitorseemedtotakebutlittleinterestfinallyinthesubject,andconsequentlyitwasdropped. Basssoondeparted,givingmeanotherslylookofrecognitionandsignificance,ashetrottedoutoftheyard. 

           WhenhewasgoneIobtainedapass,andstartedforTanner’s—notPeterTanner’s,ofwhommentionhaspreviouslybeenmade,butarelativeofhis. Iplayedduringthedayandmostofthenight,spendingthenextday,Sunday,inmycabin. MondayIcrossedthebayoutoDouglasMarshall’s,allEpps’slavesaccompanyingme,andonTuesdaywenttotheoldNorwoodplace,whichisthethirdplantationaboveMarshall’s,onthesamesideofthewater. 

           ThisestateisnowownedbyMissMaryMcCoy,alovelygirl,sometwentyyearsofage. SheisthebeautyandthegloryofBayouBœuf. Sheownsaboutahundredworkinghands,besidesagreatmanyhouseservants,yardboys,andyoungchildren. Herbrother-in-law,whoresidesontheadjoiningestate,ishergeneralagent. Sheisbelovedbyallherslaves,andgoodreasonindeedhavetheytobethankfulthattheyhavefallenintosuchgentlehands. Nowhereonthebayouaretheresuchfeasts,suchmerrymaking,asatyoungMadamMcCoy’s. Thither,morethantoanyotherplace,dotheoldandtheyoungformilesaroundlovetorepairinthetimeoftheChristmasholidays; fornowhereelsecantheyfindsuchdeliciousrepasts;nowhereelsecantheyhearavoicespeakingtothemsopleasantly.