Дванадцять років рабства

           LikeWilliamFord,hisbrother-in-law,TannerwasinthehabitofreadingtheBibletohisslavesontheSabbath,butinasomewhatdifferentspirit. HewasanimpressivecommentatorontheNewTestament. ThefirstSundayaftermycomingtotheplantation,hecalledthemtogether,andbegantoreadthetwelfthchapterofLuke. Whenhecametothe47thverse,helookeddeliberatelyaroundhim,andcontinued —"Andthatservantwhichknewhislord’swill,"—herehepaused,lookingaroundmoredeliberatelythanbefore,andagainproceeded —"whichknewhislord’swill,andpreparednothimself"—herewasanotherpause—"preparednothimself,neitherdidaccordingtohiswill,shallbebeatenwithmanystripes." 

           "D’yehearthat?"demandedPeter,emphatically. "Stripes,"herepeated,slowlyanddistinctly,takingoffhisspectacles,preparatorytomakingafewremarks. 

           "Thatniggerthatdon’ttakecare—thatdon’tobeyhislord—that’shismaster—d’yesee? —that’ereniggershallbebeatenwithmanystripes. Now,’many’signifiesagreatmany—forty,ahundred,ahundredandfiftylashes. That’sScripter!" andsoPetercontinuedtoelucidatethesubjectforagreatlengthoftime,muchtotheedificationofhissableaudience. 

           Attheconclusionoftheexercises,callingupthreeofhisslaves,Warner,WillandMajor,hecriedouttome— 

           "Here,Platt,youheldTibeatsbythelegs;nowI’llseeifyoucanholdtheserascalsinthesameway,tillIgetbackfrommeetin’."