Дванадцять років рабства

           Shecarednotwhithertheymightcarryher. Pointingtothescarsuponherface,thedesperatecreaturewishedthatshemightseethedaywhenshecouldwipethemoffinsomeman’sblood! 

           Whilewewerethuslearningthehistoryofeachother’swretchedness,Elizawasseatedinacornerbyherself,singinghymnsandprayingforherchildren. Weariedfromthelossofsomuchsleep,Icouldnolongerbearupagainsttheadvancesofthat"sweetrestorer,"andlayingdownbythesideofRobert,onthefloor,soonforgotmytroubles,andsleptuntilthedawnofday. 

           Inthemorning,havingswepttheyard,andwashedourselves,underGoodin’ssuperintendence,wewereorderedtorollupourblankets,andmakereadyforthecontinuanceofourjourney. ClemRaywasinformedthathewouldgonofurther,Burch,forsomecause,havingconcludedtocarryhimbacktoWashington. Hewasmuchrejoiced. Shakinghands,wepartedintheslavepenatRichmond,andIhavenotseenhimsince. But,muchtomysurprise,sincemyreturn,Ilearnedthathehadescapedfrombondage,andonhiswaytothefreesoilofCanada,lodgedonenightatthehouseofmybrother-in-lawinSaratoga,informingmyfamilyoftheplaceandtheconditioninwhichheleftme. 

           Intheafternoonweweredrawnup,twoabreast,Robertandmyselfinadvance,andinthisorder,drivenbyBurchandGoodinfromtheyard,throughthestreetsofRichmondtothebrigOrleans. Shewasavesselofrespectablesize,fullrigged,andfreightedprincipallywithtobacco. Wewereallonboardbyfiveo’clock. Burchbroughtuseachatincupandaspoon. Therewerefortyofusinthebrig,beingall,exceptClem,thatwereinthepen.