Дванадцять років рабства

           Thenextmorningtheysuggestedthat,inasmuchaswewereaboutenteringaslaveState,itwouldbewell,beforeleavingNew-York,toprocurefreepapers. Theideastruckmeasaprudentone,thoughIthinkitwouldscarcelyhaveoccurredtome,hadtheynotproposedit. WeproceededatoncetowhatIunderstoodtobetheCustomHouse. TheymadeoathtocertainfactsshowingIwasafreeman. Apaperwasdrawnupandhandedus,withthedirectiontotakeittotheclerk’soffice. Wedidso,andtheclerkhavingaddedsomethingtoit,forwhichhewaspaidsixshillings,wereturnedagaintotheCustomHouse. Somefurtherformalitiesweregonethroughwithbeforeitwascompleted,when,payingtheofficertwodollars,Iplacedthepapersinmypocket,andstartedwithmytwofriendstoourhotel. Ithoughtatthetime,Imustconfess,thatthepaperswerescarcelyworththecostofobtainingthem—theapprehensionofdangertomypersonalsafetyneverhavingsuggesteditselftomeintheremotestmanner. Theclerk,towhomweweredirected,Iremember,madeamemoranduminalargebook,which,Ipresume,isintheofficeyet. AreferencetotheentriesduringthelatterpartofMarch,orfirstofApril,1841,Ihavenodoubtwillsatisfytheincredulous,atleastsofarasthisparticulartransactionisconcerned. 

           Withtheevidenceoffreedominmypossession,thenextdayafterourarrivalinNew-York,wecrossedtheferrytoJerseyCity,andtooktheroadtoPhiladelphia. Hereweremainedonenight,continuingourjourneytowardsBaltimoreearlyinthemorning. Induetime,wearrivedinthelattercity,andstoppedatahotelneartherailroaddepot,eitherkeptbyaMr.Rathbone,orknownastheRathboneHouse. AllthewayfromNew-York,theiranxietytoreachthecircusseemedtogrowmoreandmoreintense.