Дванадцять років рабства

           Thatnight,nearlyallwhocameinonthebrigOrleans,weretakenill. Theycomplainedofviolentpainintheheadandback. LittleEmily—athingunusualwithher—criedconstantly. Inthemorningaphysicianwascalledin,butwasunabletodeterminethenatureofourcomplaint. Whileexaminingme,andaskingquestionstouchingmysymptoms,Igaveitasmyopinionthatitwasanattackofsmall-pox—mentioningthefactofRobert’sdeathasthereasonofmybelief. Itmightbesoindeed,hethought,andhewouldsendfortheheadphysicianofthehospital. Shortly,theheadphysiciancame—asmall,light-hairedman,whomtheycalledDr.Carr. Hepronounceditsmall-pox,whereupontherewasmuchalarmthroughouttheyard. SoonafterDr.Carrleft,Eliza,Emmy,Harryandmyselfwereputintoahackanddriventothehospital—alargewhitemarblebuilding,standingontheoutskirtsofthecity. HarryandIwereplacedinaroominoneoftheupperstories. Ibecameverysick. ForthreedaysIwasentirelyblind. Whilelyinginthisstateoneday,Bobcamein,sayingtoDr.CarrthatFreemanhadsenthimovertoinquirehowweweregettingon. Tellhim,saidthedoctor,thatPlattisverybad,butthatifhesurvivesuntilnineo’clock,hemayrecover. 

           Iexpectedtodie. Thoughtherewaslittleintheprospectbeforemeworthlivingfor,thenearapproachofdeathappalledme. IthoughtIcouldhavebeenresignedtoyieldupmylifeinthebosomofmyfamily,buttoexpireinthemidstofstrangers,undersuchcircumstances,wasabitterreflection.