Двенадцать лет рабства

           Wiley,onthecontrary,wassilent. Heperformedhistaskwithoutmurmurorcomplaint,seldomindulgingintheluxuryofspeech,excepttoutterawish,thathewasawayfromEpps,andbackoncemoreinSouthCarolina. 

           BobandHenryhadreachedtheagesoftwentyandtwenty-three,andweredistinguishedfornothingextraordinaryorunusual, whileEdward,aladofthirteen,notyetabletomaintainhisrowinthecornorthecottonfield,waskeptinthegreathouse,towaitonthelittleEppses. 

           Patseywasslimandstraight. Shestooderectasthehumanformiscapableofstanding. Therewasanairofloftinessinhermovement,thatneitherlabor,norweariness,norpunishmentcoulddestroy. Truly,Patseywasasplendidanimal,andwereitnotthatbondagehadenshroudedherintellectinutterandeverlastingdarkness,wouldhavebeenchiefamongtenthousandofherpeople. Shecouldleapthehighestfences,andafleethounditwasindeed,thatcouldoutstripherinarace. Nohorsecouldflingherfromhisback. Shewasaskillfulteamster.Sheturnedastrueafurrowasthebest,andatsplittingrailstherewerenonewhocouldexcelher. Whentheordertohaltwasheardatnight,shewouldhavehermulesatthecrib,unharnessed,fedandcurried,beforeuncleAbramhadfoundhishat. Not,however,foralloranyofthese,wasshechieflyfamous. Suchlightning-likemotionwasinherfingersasnootherfingerseverpossessed,andthereforeitwas,thatincottonpickingtime,Patseywasqueenofthefield.