Двенадцать лет рабства

           Hesaidmanykindandcheeringthingstomeontheway,ridingslowly,inorderthatImightkeeppacewithhim. ThegoodnessofGodwasmanifest,hedeclared,inmymiraculousescapefromtheswamp. AsDanielcameforthunharmedfromthedenoflions,andasJonahhadbeenpreservedinthewhale’sbelly,evensohadIbeendeliveredfromevilbytheAlmighty. HeinterrogatedmeinregardtothevariousfearsandemotionsIhadexperiencedduringthedayandnight,andifIhadfelt,atanytime,adesiretopray. Ifeltforsakenofthewholeworld,Iansweredhim,andwasprayingmentallyallthewhile. Atsuchtimes,saidhe,theheartofmanturnsinstinctivelytowardshisMaker. Inprosperity,andwhenthereisnothingtoinjureormakehimafraid,heremembersHimnot,andisreadytodefyHim;butplacehiminthemidstofdangers,cuthimofffromhumanaid,letthegraveopenbeforehim—thenitis,inthetimeofhistribulation,thatthescofferandunbelievingmanturnstoGodforhelp,feelingthereisnootherhope,orrefuge,orsafety,saveinhisprotectingarm. 

           Sodidthatbenignantmanspeaktomeofthislifeandofthelifehereafter;ofthegoodnessandpowerofGod,andofthevanityofearthlythings,aswejourneyedalongthesolitaryroadtowardsBayouBœuf. 

           Whenwithinsomefivemilesoftheplantation,wediscoveredahorsemanatadistance,gallopingtowardsus. AshecamenearIsawthatitwasTibeats! Helookedatmeamoment,butdidnotaddressme,andturningabout,rodealongsidebysidewithFord.