Двенадцать лет рабства

           OnChristmasday,1829,IwasmarriedtoAnneHampton,acoloredgirlthenlivinginthevicinityofourresidence. TheceremonywasperformedatFortEdward,byTimothyEddy,Esq.,amagistrateofthattown,andstillaprominentcitizenoftheplace. ShehadresidedalongtimeatSandyHill,withMr.Baird,proprietoroftheEagleTavern,andalsointhefamilyofRev.AlexanderProudfit,ofSalem. ThisgentlemanformanyyearshadpresidedoverthePresbyteriansocietyatthelatterplace,andwaswidelydistinguishedforhislearningandpiety. Annestillholdsingratefulremembrancetheexceedingkindnessandtheexcellentcounselsofthatgoodman. Sheisnotabletodeterminetheexactlineofherdescent,butthebloodofthreeracesminglesinherveins. Itisdifficulttotellwhetherthered,white,orblackpredominates. Theunionofthemall,however,inherorigin,hasgivenherasingularbutpleasingexpression,suchasisrarelytobeseen. Thoughsomewhatresembling,yetshecannotproperlybestyledaquadroon,aclasstowhich,Ihaveomittedtomention,mymotherbelonged. 

           Ihadjustnowpassedtheperiodofmyminority,havingreachedtheageoftwenty-oneyearsinthemonthofJulyprevious. Deprivedoftheadviceandassistanceofmyfather,withawifedependentuponmeforsupport,Iresolvedtoenteruponalifeofindustry; andnotwithstandingtheobstacleofcolor,andtheconsciousnessofmylowlystate,indulgedinpleasantdreamsofagoodtimecoming,whenthepossessionofsomehumblehabitation,withafewsurroundingacres,shouldrewardmylabors,andbringmethemeansofhappinessandcomfort. 

           FromthetimeofmymarriagetothisdaytheloveIhavebornemywifehasbeensincereandunabated; andonlythosewhohavefelttheglowingtendernessafathercherishesforhisoffspring,canappreciatemyaffectionforthebelovedchildrenwhichhavesincebeenborntous.