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Chapter 21
PointingtowardsNorthup,standingafewrodsdistant,hedemanded —"Doyouknowthatman?"
Ilookedinthedirectionindicated,andasmyeyesrestedonhiscountenance,aworldofimagesthrongedmybrain;amultitudeofwell-knownfaces —Anne’s,andthedearchildren’s,andmyolddeadfather’s;allthescenesandassociationsofchildhoodandyouth;allthefriendsofotherandhappierdays,appearedanddisappeared,flittingandfloatinglikedissolvingshadowsbeforethevisionofmyimagination,untilatlasttheperfectmemoryofthemanrecurredtome,andthrowingupmyhandstowardsHeaven,Iexclaimed,inavoicelouderthanIcouldutterinalessexcitingmoment—
"HenryB.Northup!ThankGod—thankGod!"
InaninstantIcomprehendedthenatureofhisbusiness,andfeltthatthehourofmydeliverancewasathand. Istartedtowardshim,butthesheriffsteppedbeforeme.
"Stopamoment,"saidhe;"haveyouanyothernamethanPlatt?"
"SolomonNorthupismyname,master,"Ireplied.
"Haveyouafamily?"heinquired.
"Ihadawifeandthreechildren."
"Whatwereyourchildren’snames?"
"Elizabeth,MargaretandAlonzo."
"Andyourwife’snamebeforehermarriage?"
"AnneHampton."
"Whomarriedyou?"
"TimothyEddy,ofFortEdward."
"Wheredoesthatgentlemanlive?"againpointingtoNorthup,whoremainedstandinginthesameplacewhereIhadfirstrecognizedhim.
"HelivesinSandyHill,Washingtoncounty,New-York,"wasthereply.
Hewasproceedingtoaskfurtherquestions,butIpushedpasthim,unablelongertorestrainmyself. Iseizedmyoldacquaintancebybothhands. Icouldnotspeak. Icouldnotrefrainfromtears.