Двенадцать лет рабства

           RepairingtoMontreal,Ivisitedthecathedralandotherplacesofinterestinthatcity,fromwhenceIcontinuedmyexcursiontoKingstonandothertowns,obtainingaknowledgeoflocalities,whichwasalsoofservicetomeafterwards,aswillappeartowardsthecloseofthisnarrative. 

           Havingcompletedmycontractsonthecanalsatisfactorilytomyselfandtomyemployer,andnotwishingtoremainidle,nowthatthenavigationofthecanalwasagainsuspended,IenteredintoanothercontractwithMedadGunn,tocutalargequantityofwood. InthisbusinessIwasengagedduringthewinterof1831-32. 

           Withthereturnofspring,Anneandmyselfconceivedtheprojectoftakingafarmintheneighborhood. Ihadbeenaccustomedfromearliestyouthtoagriculturallabors,anditwasanoccupationcongenialtomytastes. IaccordinglyenteredintoarrangementsforapartoftheoldAldenfarm,onwhichmyfatherformerlyresided. Withonecow,oneswine,ayokeoffineoxenIhadlatelypurchasedofLewisBrown,inHartford,andotherpersonalpropertyandeffects,weproceededtoournewhomeinKingsbury. ThatyearIplantedtwenty-fiveacresofcorn,sowedlargefieldsofoats,andcommencedfarminguponaslargeascaleasmyutmostmeanswouldpermit. Annewasdiligentaboutthehouseaffairs,whileItoiledlaboriouslyinthefield. 

           Onthisplacewecontinuedtoresideuntil1834. InthewinterseasonIhadnumerouscallstoplayontheviolin. Wherevertheyoungpeopleassembledtodance,Iwasalmostinvariablythere. Throughoutthesurroundingvillagesmyfiddlewasnotorious. Anne,also,duringherlongresidenceattheEagleTavern,hadbecomesomewhatfamousasacook.