Дванадцять років рабства

           Asweapproached,ayellowgirl—hernamewasRose—wasstandingonthepiazza. Goingtothedoor,shecalledhermistress,whopresentlycamerunningouttomeetherlord. Shekissedhim,andlaughinglydemandedifhehadbought"thoseniggers." Fordsaidhehad,andtoldustogoroundtoSally’scabinandrestourselves. Turningthecornerofthehouse,wediscoveredSallywashing—hertwobabychildrennearher,rollingonthegrass. Theyjumpedupandtoddledtowardsus,lookedatusamomentlikeabraceofrabbits,thenranbacktotheirmotherasifafraidofus. 

           Sallyconductedusintothecabin,toldustolaydownourbundlesandbeseated,forshewassurethatweweretired. JustthenJohn,thecook,aboysomesixteenyearsofage,andblackerthananycrow,camerunningin,lookedsteadilyinourfaces,thenturninground,withoutsayingasmuchas"howd’yedo,"ranbacktothekitchen,laughingloudly,asifourcomingwasagreatjokeindeed. 

           Muchweariedwithourwalk,assoonasitwasdark,HarryandIwrappedourblanketsroundus,andlaiddownuponthecabinfloor. Mythoughts,asusual,wanderedbacktomywifeandchildren. Theconsciousnessofmyrealsituation;thehopelessnessofanyefforttoescapethroughthewideforestsofAvoyelles,pressedheavilyuponme,yetmyheartwasathomeinSaratoga. 

           IwasawakenedearlyinthemorningbythevoiceofMasterFord,callingRose. Shehastenedintothehousetodressthechildren,Sallytothefieldtomilkthecows,whileJohnwasbusyinthekitchenpreparingbreakfast.