Двенадцать лет рабства

           ButIwassometimehisslave,andhadanopportunityoflearningwellhischaracteranddisposition,anditisbutsimplejusticetohimwhenIsay,inmyopinion,thereneverwasamorekind,noble,candid,ChristianmanthanWilliamFord. Theinfluencesandassociationsthathadalwayssurroundedhim,blindedhimtotheinherentwrongatthebottomofthesystemofSlavery. Heneverdoubtedthemoralrightofonemanholdinganotherinsubjection. Lookingthroughthesamemediumwithhisfathersbeforehim,hesawthingsinthesamelight. Broughtupunderothercircumstancesandotherinfluences,hisnotionswouldundoubtedlyhavebeendifferent. Nevertheless,hewasamodelmaster,walkinguprightly,accordingtothelightofhisunderstanding,andfortunatewastheslavewhocametohispossession. Wereallmensuchashe,Slaverywouldbedeprivedofmorethanhalfitsbitterness. 

           WeweretwodaysandthreenightsonboardthesteamboatRodolph,duringwhichtimenothingofparticularinterestoccurred. IwasnowknownasPlatt,thenamegivenmebyBurch,andbywhichIwasdesignatedthroughthewholeperiodofmyservitude. Elizawassoldbythenameof"Dradey." ShewassodistinguishedintheconveyancetoFord,nowonrecordintherecorder’sofficeinNew-Orleans. 

           OnourpassageIwasconstantlyreflectingonmysituation,andconsultingwithmyselfonthebestcoursetopursueinordertoeffectmyultimateescape. Sometimes,notonlythen,butafterwards,IwasalmostonthepointofdisclosingfullytoFordthefactsofmyhistory.