Дванадцять років рабства

           Shebrokefromherplaceinthelineofwomen,andrushingdownwhereEmilywasstanding,caughtherinherarms. Thechild,sensibleofsomeimpendingdanger,instinctivelyfastenedherhandsaroundhermother’sneck,andnestledherlittleheaduponherbosom. Freemansternlyorderedhertobequiet,butshedidnotheedhim. Hecaughtherbythearmandpulledherrudely,butsheonlyclungtheclosertothechild. Then,withavolleyofgreatoaths,hestruckhersuchaheartlessblow,thatshestaggeredbackward,andwasliketofall. Oh!howpiteouslythendidshebeseechandbegandpraythattheymightnotbeseparated. Whycouldtheynotbepurchasedtogether? Whynotletherhaveoneofherdearchildren? "Mercy,mercy,master!"shecried,fallingonherknees. "Please,master,buyEmily. Icanneverworkanyifsheistakenfromme:Iwilldie." 

           Freemaninterferedagain,but,disregardinghim,shestillpleadmostearnestly,tellinghowRandallhadbeentakenfromher—howsheneverwouldseehimagain,andnowitwastoobad—oh,God!itwastoobad,toocruel,totakeherawayfromEmily—herpride—heronlydarling,thatcouldnotlive,itwassoyoung,withoutitsmother! 

           Finally,aftermuchmoreofsupplication,thepurchaserofElizasteppedforward,evidentlyaffected,andsaidtoFreemanhewouldbuyEmily,andaskedhimwhatherpricewas. 

           "Whatisherprice?Buyher?"wastheresponsiveinterrogatoryofTheophilusFreeman. Andinstantlyansweringhisowninquiry,headded, "Iwon’tsellher. She’snotforsale."