Двенадцать лет рабства
Chapter 1
RepairingtoMontreal,Ivisitedthecathedralandotherplacesofinterestinthatcity,fromwhenceIcontinuedmyexcursiontoKingstonandothertowns,obtainingaknowledgeoflocalities,whichwasalsoofservicetomeafterwards,aswillappeartowardsthecloseofthisnarrative.
Havingcompletedmycontractsonthecanalsatisfactorilytomyselfandtomyemployer,andnotwishingtoremainidle,nowthatthenavigationofthecanalwasagainsuspended,IenteredintoanothercontractwithMedadGunn,tocutalargequantityofwood. InthisbusinessIwasengagedduringthewinterof1831-32.
Withthereturnofspring,Anneandmyselfconceivedtheprojectoftakingafarmintheneighborhood. Ihadbeenaccustomedfromearliestyouthtoagriculturallabors,anditwasanoccupationcongenialtomytastes. IaccordinglyenteredintoarrangementsforapartoftheoldAldenfarm,onwhichmyfatherformerlyresided. Withonecow,oneswine,ayokeoffineoxenIhadlatelypurchasedofLewisBrown,inHartford,andotherpersonalpropertyandeffects,weproceededtoournewhomeinKingsbury. ThatyearIplantedtwenty-fiveacresofcorn,sowedlargefieldsofoats,andcommencedfarminguponaslargeascaleasmyutmostmeanswouldpermit. Annewasdiligentaboutthehouseaffairs,whileItoiledlaboriouslyinthefield.
Onthisplacewecontinuedtoresideuntil1834. InthewinterseasonIhadnumerouscallstoplayontheviolin. Wherevertheyoungpeopleassembledtodance,Iwasalmostinvariablythere. Throughoutthesurroundingvillagesmyfiddlewasnotorious. Anne,also,duringherlongresidenceattheEagleTavern,hadbecomesomewhatfamousasacook.
