Дванадцять років рабства

           Therewereagreatnumberinthehospital,ofbothsexes,andofallages. Intherearofthebuildingcoffinsweremanufactured. Whenonedied,thebelltolled—asignaltotheundertakertocomeandbearawaythebodytothepotter’sfield. Manytimes,eachdayandnight,thetollingbellsentforthitsmelancholyvoice,announcinganotherdeath. Butmytimehadnotyetcome. Thecrisishavingpassed,Ibegantorevive,andattheendoftwoweeksandtwodays,returnedwithHarrytothepen,bearinguponmyfacetheeffectsofthemalady,whichtothisdaycontinuestodisfigureit. ElizaandEmilywerealsobroughtbacknextdayinahack,andagainwereweparadedinthesales-room,fortheinspectionandexaminationofpurchasers. Istillindulgedthehopethattheoldgentlemaninsearchofacoachmanwouldcallagain,ashehadpromised,andpurchaseme. InthateventIfeltanabidingconfidencethatIwouldsoonregainmyliberty. Customeraftercustomerentered,buttheoldgentlemannevermadehisappearance. 

           Atlength,oneday,whilewewereintheyard,Freemancameoutandorderedustoourplaces,inthegreatroom. Agentlemanwaswaitingforusasweentered,andinasmuchashewillbeoftenmentionedintheprogressofthisnarrative,adescriptionofhispersonalappearance,andmyestimationofhischaracter,atfirstsight,maynotbeoutofplace. 

           Hewasamanabovetheordinaryheight,somewhatbentandstoopingforward. Hewasagood-lookingman,andappearedtohavereachedaboutthemiddleageoflife.