Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 7
Oftendidthevoiceofprayerascendfromhislipstoheaven,theonlysoundthatbrokethesolitudeoftheplace.
InthecourseofthesummerSambecamedeeplyconvicted,hisminddwellingintenselyonthesubjectofreligion. HismistressgavehimaBible,whichhecarriedwithhimtohiswork. Whateverleisuretimewasallowedhim,hespentinperusingit,thoughitwasonlywithgreatdifficultythathecouldmasteranypartofit. Ioftenreadtohim,afavorwhichhewellrepaidmebymanyexpressionsofgratitude. Sam’spietywasfrequentlyobservedbywhitemenwhocametothemill,andtheremarkitmostgenerallyprovokedwas,thatamanlikeFord,whoallowedhisslavestohaveBibles,was"notfittoownanigger."
He,however,lostnothingbyhiskindness. ItisafactIhavemorethanonceobserved,thatthosewhotreatedtheirslavesmostleniently,wererewardedbythegreatestamountoflabor. Iknowitfrommyownexperience. ItwasasourceofpleasuretosurpriseMasterFordwithagreaterday’sworkthanwasrequired,while,undersubsequentmasters,therewasnopromptertoextraeffortbuttheoverseer’slash.
ItwasthedesireofFord’sapprovingvoicethatsuggestedtomeanideathatresultedtohisprofit. ThelumberweweremanufacturingwascontractedtobedeliveredatLamourie. Ithadhithertobeentransportedbyland,andwasanimportantitemofexpense. IndianCreek,uponwhichthemillsweresituated,wasanarrowbutdeepstreamemptyingintoBayouBœuf.
