12 Years a Slave Solomon Northup Chapter 15 Labors on sugar plantations—the mode of planting cane—of hoeing cane—cane ricks—cutting cane—description of the cane knife—winrowing—preparing for succeeding crops—description of Hawkins’ Sugar Mill on Bayou Bœuf—the Christmas holidays—the carnival season of the children of bondage—the Christmas supper—red, the favorite color—the violin, and the consolation it afforded—the Christmas dance—lively, the coquette—Sam Roberts, and his rivals—slave songs—Southern life as it is—three days in the year—the system of marriage—Uncle Abram’s contempt of matrimony