Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 6
Freeman,however,declaredthatIwassoundandhealthy,ofagoodconstitution,andintelligent. Hemadeitapointtoenlargeuponmymusicalattainments. Theoldgentlemanarguedquiteadroitlythattherewasnothingextraordinaryaboutthenigger,andfinally,tomyregret,wentout,sayinghewouldcallagain. Duringtheday,however,anumberofsalesweremade. DavidandCarolinewerepurchasedtogetherbyaNatchezplanter. Theyleftus,grinningbroadly,andinthemosthappystateofmind,causedbythefactoftheirnotbeingseparated. LethewassoldtoaplanterofBatonRouge,hereyesflashingwithangerasshewasledaway.
ThesamemanalsopurchasedRandall. Thelittlefellowwasmadetojump,andrunacrossthefloor,andperformmanyotherfeats,exhibitinghisactivityandcondition. Allthetimethetradewasgoingon,Elizawascryingaloud,andwringingherhands. Shebesoughtthemannottobuyhim,unlesshealsoboughtherselfandEmily. Shepromised,inthatcase,tobethemostfaithfulslavethateverlived. Themanansweredthathecouldnotaffordit,andthenElizaburstintoaparoxysmofgrief,weepingplaintively. Freemanturnedroundtoher,savagely,withhiswhipinhisupliftedhand,orderinghertostophernoise,orhewouldflogher. Hewouldnothavesuchwork—suchsnivelling;andunlesssheceasedthatminute,hewouldtakehertotheyardandgiveherahundredlashes.
