Двенадцать лет рабства

           DuringtheremainingholidayssucceedingChristmas,theyareprovidedwithpasses,andpermittedtogowheretheypleasewithinalimiteddistance,ortheymayremainandlaborontheplantation,inwhichcasetheyarepaidforit. Itisveryrarely,however,thatthelatteralternativeisaccepted. Theymaybeseenatthesetimeshurryinginalldirections,ashappylookingmortalsascanbefoundonthefaceoftheearth. Theyaredifferentbeingsfromwhattheyareinthefield;thetemporaryrelaxation,thebriefdeliverancefromfear,andfromthelash,producinganentiremetamorphosisintheirappearanceanddemeanor. Invisiting,riding,renewingoldfriendships,or,perchance,revivingsomeoldattachment,orpursuingwhateverpleasuremaysuggestitself,thetimeisoccupied. Suchis"southernlifeasitis,"threedaysintheyear,asIfoundit—theotherthreehundredandsixty-twobeingdaysofweariness,andfear,andsuffering,andunremittinglabor. 

           Marriageisfrequentlycontractedduringtheholidays,ifsuchaninstitutionmaybesaidtoexistamongthem. Theonlyceremonyrequiredbeforeenteringintothat"holyestate,"istoobtaintheconsentoftherespectiveowners. Itisusuallyencouragedbythemastersoffemaleslaves. Eitherpartycanhaveasmanyhusbandsorwivesastheownerwillpermit,andeitherisatlibertytodiscardtheotheratpleasure. Thelawinrelationtodivorce,ortobigamy,andsoforth,isnotapplicabletoproperty,ofcourse.