Дванадцять років рабства

           Thelatterwasayoungmanoffaircomplexionandlighteyes,and,Ishouldjudge,hadnotpassedtheageoftwenty-five. Hewastallandslender,dressedinasnuff-coloredcoat,withglossyhat,andvestofelegantpattern. Hiswholeapparelwasintheextremeoffashion. Hisappearancewassomewhateffeminate,butprepossessing,andtherewasabouthimaneasyair,thatshowedhehadmingledwiththeworld. Theywereconnected,astheyinformedme,withacircuscompany,theninthecityofWashington; thattheywereontheirwaythithertorejoinit,havingleftitforashorttimetomakeanexcursionnorthward,forthepurposeofseeingthecountry,andwerepayingtheirexpensesbyanoccasionalexhibition. Theyalsoremarkedthattheyhadfoundmuchdifficultyinprocuringmusicfortheirentertainments, andthatifIwouldaccompanythemasfarasNew-York,theywouldgivemeonedollarforeachday’sservices,andthreedollarsinadditionforeverynightIplayedattheirperformances,besidessufficienttopaytheexpensesofmyreturnfromNew-YorktoSaratoga. 

           Iatonceacceptedthetemptingoffer,bothfortherewarditpromised,andfromadesiretovisitthemetropolis. Theywereanxioustoleaveimmediately. Thinkingmyabsencewouldbebrief,IdidnotdeemitnecessarytowritetoAnnewhitherIhadgone;infactsupposingthatmyreturn,perhaps,wouldbeassoonashers. Sotakingachangeoflinenandmyviolin,Iwasreadytodepart. Thecarriagewasbroughtround—acoveredone,drawnbyapairofnoblebays,altogetherforminganelegantestablishment. Theirbaggage,consistingofthreelargetrunks,wasfastenedontherack,andmountingtothedriver’sseat,whiletheytooktheirplacesintherear,IdroveawayfromSaratogaontheroadtoAlbany,elatedwithmynewposition,andhappyasIhadeverbeen,onanydayinallmylife.