Дванадцять років рабства

           "Sol,"hesaidatlength,"I’mgladtoseeyou." 

           Iessayedtomakesomeanswer,butemotionchokedallutterance,andIwassilent. Theslaves,utterlyconfounded,stoodgazinguponthescene,theiropenmouthsandrollingeyesindicatingtheutmostwonderandastonishment. FortenyearsIhaddweltamongthem,inthefieldandinthecabin,bornethesamehardships,partakenthesamefare,mingledmygriefswiththeirs,participatedinthesamescantyjoys; nevertheless,notuntilthishour,thelastIwastoremainamongthem,hadtheremotestsuspicionofmytruename,ortheslightestknowledgeofmyrealhistory,beenentertainedbyanyoneofthem. 

           Notawordwasspokenforseveralminutes,duringwhichtimeIclungfasttoNorthup,lookingupintohisface,fearfulIshouldawakeandfinditalladream. 

           "Throwdownthatsack,"Northupadded,finally; "yourcotton-pickingdaysareover. Comewithustothemanyoulivewith." 

           Iobeyedhim,andwalkingbetweenhimandthesheriff,wemovedtowardsthegreathouse. ItwasnotuntilwehadproceededsomedistancethatIhadrecoveredmyvoicesufficientlytoaskifmyfamilywereallliving. HeinformedmehehadseenAnne,MargaretandElizabethbutashorttimepreviously;thatAlonzowasalsoliving,andallwerewell. Mymother,however,Icouldneverseeagain.