Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

BASS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD--HIS ARRIVAL ON CHRISTMAS EVE--THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING AN INTERVIEW--THE MEETING IN THE CABIN--NON-ARRIVAL OF THE LETTER--BASS ANNOUNCES HIS INTENTION TO PROCEED NORTH--CHRISTMAS--CONVERSATION BETWEEN EPPS AND BASS--YOUNG MISTRESS M'COY, THE BEAUTY OF BAYOU BOEUF--THE "NE PLUS ULTRA" OF DINNERS--MUSIC AND DANCING--PRESENCE OF THE MISTRESS--HER EXCEEDING BEAUTY--THE LAST SLAVE DANCE--WILLIAM PIERCE--OVERSLEEP MYSELF--THE LAST WHIPPING--DESPONDENCY--THE COLD MORNING--EPPS' THREATS--THE PASSING CARRIAGE--STRANGERS APPROACHING THROUGH THE COTTON-FIELD--LAST HOUR ON BAYOU BOEUF.

Faithful to his word, the day before Christmas, just at night-fall, Bass came riding into the yard.