Дванадцять років рабства

           Itookpainstoseekhimout,toconfronthiminacourtoflaw,charginghimwiththecrimeofkidnapping; andtheonlymotivethatimpelledmetothisstep,wasaburningsenseofthewronghehadinflicteduponme,andadesiretobringhimtojustice. Hewasacquitted,inthemanner,andbysuchmeansashavebeendescribed. Ahumantribunalhaspermittedhimtoescape;butthereisanotherandahighertribunal,wherefalsetestimonywillnotprevail,andwhereIamwilling,sofaratleastasthesestatementsareconcerned,tobejudgedatlast. 

           *** 

           WeleftWashingtononthe20thofJanuary,andproceedingbythewayofPhiladelphia,New-York,andAlbany,reachedSandyHillinthenightofthe21st. MyheartoverflowedwithhappinessasIlookedarounduponoldfamiliarscenes,andfoundmyselfinthemidstoffriendsofotherdays. ThefollowingmorningIstarted,incompanywithseveralacquaintances,forGlensFalls,theresidenceofAnneandourchildren. 

           AsIenteredtheircomfortablecottage,Margaretwasthefirstthatmetme. Shedidnotrecognizeme. WhenIlefther,shewasbutsevenyearsold,alittleprattlinggirl,playingwithhertoys. Nowshewasgrowntowomanhood—wasmarried,withabright-eyedboystandingbyherside. Notforgetfulofhisenslaved,unfortunategrand-father,shehadnamedthechildSolomonNorthupStaunton. WhentoldwhoIwas,shewasovercomewithemotion,andunabletospeak. PresentlyElizabethenteredtheroom,andAnnecamerunningfromthehotel,havingbeeninformedofmyarrival.