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Twelve Years a Slave_02

Chapter II. One morning,towards the latter part of the month of March,1841, having at that time no particular business to engage my attention,I was walking about the village of Saratoga Springs, thinking to myself where I might obtain some present employment,until the busy season should arrive.

Anne,as was her usual custom,had gone over to Sandy Hill, a distance of some twenty miles,to take charge of the culinary department at Sherrill's Coffee House, during the session of the court.

Elizabeth,I think,had accompanied her.

Margaret and Alonzo were with their aunt at Saratoga.

On the corner of Congress street and Broadway,near the tavern,then, and for aught I know to the contrary,still kept by Mr. Moon,I was met by two gentlemen of respectable appearance, both of whom were entirely unknown to me.

I have the impression that they were introduced to me by some one of my acquaintances,but who,I have in vain endeavored to recall, with the remark that I was an expert player on the violin.

At any rate,they immediately entered into conversation on that subject, making numerous inquiries touching my proficiency in that respect.

My responses being to all appearances satisfactory, they proposed to engage my services for a short period,stating,at the same time,I was just such a person as their business required.

Their names,as they afterwards gave them to me,were Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton, though whether these were their true appellations,I have strong reasons to doubt.

The former was a man apparently forty years of age,somewhat short and thick-set, with a countenance indicating shrewdness and intelligence.

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