Двенадцать лет рабства

           Elizabeth,theeldest,wasinhertenthyear; Margaretwastwoyearsyounger,andlittleAlonzohadjustpassedhisfifthbirth-day. Theyfilledourhousewithgladness. Theiryoungvoicesweremusicinourears. Manyanairycastledidtheirmotherandmyselfbuildforthelittleinnocents. WhennotatlaborIwasalwayswalkingwiththem,cladintheirbestattire,throughthestreetsandgrovesofSaratoga. Theirpresencewasmydelight; andIclaspedthemtomybosomwithaswarmandtenderloveasiftheircloudedskinshadbeenaswhiteassnow. 

           Thusfarthehistoryofmylifepresentsnothingwhateverunusual—nothingbutthecommonhopes,andloves,andlaborsofanobscurecoloredman,makinghishumbleprogressintheworld. ButnowIhadreachedaturningpointinmyexistence—reachedthethresholdofunutterablewrong,andsorrow,anddespair. NowhadIapproachedwithintheshadowofthecloud,intothethickdarknesswhereofIwassoontodisappear,thenceforwardtobehiddenfromtheeyesofallmykindred,andshutoutfromthesweetlightofliberty,formanyawearyyear.