Дванадцять років рабства

           InthemeantimeHarryandIwerestrollingabouttheyard,lookingatournewquarters. Justafterbreakfastacoloredman,drivingthreeyokeofoxen,attachedtoawagonloadoflumber,droveintotheopening. HewasaslaveofFord’s,namedWalton,thehusbandofRose. Bytheway,RosewasanativeofWashington,andhadbeenbroughtfromthencefiveyearsbefore. ShehadneverseenEliza,butshehadheardofBerry,andtheyknewthesamestreets,andthesamepeople,eitherpersonally,orbyreputation. Theybecamefastfriendsimmediately,andtalkedagreatdealtogetherofoldtimes,andoffriendstheyhadleftbehind. 

           Fordwasatthattimeawealthyman. BesideshisseatinthePineWoods,heownedalargelumberingestablishmentonIndianCreek,fourmilesdistant,andalso,inhiswife’sright,anextensiveplantationandmanyslavesonBayouBœuf. 

           WaltonhadcomewithhisloadoflumberfromthemillsonIndianCreek. Forddirectedustoreturnwithhim,sayinghewouldfollowusassoonaspossible. Beforeleaving,MistressFordcalledmeintothestore-room,andhandedme,asitistheretermed,atinbucketofmolassesforHarryandmyself. 

           Elizawasstillringingherhandsanddeploringthelossofherchildren. Fordtriedasmuchaspossibletoconsoleher—toldhersheneednotworkveryhard;thatshemightremainwithRose,andassistthemadaminthehouseaffairs. 

           RidingwithWaltoninthewagon,HarryandIbecamequitewellacquaintedwithhimlongbeforereachingIndianCreek.