第1章

NARRATIVE

OFTHE

LIFE

OF

FREDERICKDOUGLASS，AN

AMERICANSLAVE。

WRITTENBYHIMSELF。

BOSTON

PUBLISHEDATTHEANTI-SLAVERYOFFICE，NO。25CORNHILL

1845

NARRATIVE

OFTHELIFEOF

FREDERICKDOUGLASS，ANAMERICANSLAVE

WRITTENBYHIMSELF

ENTERED，ACCORDINGTOACTOFCONGRESS，INTHEYEAR1845

BYFREDERICKDOUGLASS，INTHECLERK’SOFFICEOFTHEDISTRICTCOURT

OFMASSACHUSETTS。

PREFACE

InthemonthofAugust，1841，Iattendedananti-

slaveryconventioninNantucket，atwhichitwasmyhappinesstobecomeacquaintedwithFREDERICK

DOUGLASS，thewriterofthefollowingNarrative。Hewasastrangertonearlyeverymemberofthatbody;

but，havingrecentlymadehisescapefromthesouth-

ernprison-houseofbondage，andfeelinghiscuriosityexcitedtoascertaintheprinciplesandmeasuresoftheabolitionists，——ofwhomhehadheardasomewhatvaguedescriptionwhilehewasaslave，——hewasin-

ducedtogivehisattendance，ontheoccasional-

ludedto，thoughatthattimearesidentinNewBedford。

Fortunate，mostfortunateoccurrence！——fortunateforthemillionsofhismanacledbrethren，yetpant-

ingfordeliverancefromtheirawfulthraldom！——for-

tunateforthecauseofnegroemancipation，andofuniversalliberty！——fortunateforthelandofhisbirth，whichhehasalreadydonesomuchtosaveandbless！

——fortunateforalargecircleoffriendsandacquaint-

ances，whosesympathyandaffectionhehasstronglysecuredbythemanysufferingshehasendured，byhisvirtuoustraitsofcharacter，byhisever-abidingremembranceofthosewhoareinbonds，asbeingboundwiththem！——fortunateforthemultitudes，invariouspartsofourrepublic，whosemindshehasenlightenedonthesubjectofslavery，andwhohavebeenmeltedtotearsbyhispathos，orrousedtovirtuousindignationbyhisstirringeloquenceagainsttheenslaversofmen！——fortunateforhimself，asitatoncebroughthimintothefieldofpublicuse-

fulness，\"gavetheworldassuranceofaMAN，\"quick-

enedtheslumberingenergiesofhissoul，andcon-

secratedhimtothegreatworkofbreakingtherodoftheoppressor，andlettingtheoppressedgofree！

Ishallneverforgethisfirstspeechattheconven-

tion——theextraordinaryemotionitexcitedinmyownmind——thepowerfulimpressionitcreateduponacrowdedauditory，completelytakenbysurprise——theapplausewhichfollowedfromthebeginningtotheendofhisfelicitousremarks。IthinkIneverhatedslaverysointenselyasatthatmoment;certainly，myperceptionoftheenormousoutragewhichisin-

flictedbyit，onthegodlikenatureofitsvictims，wasrenderedfarmoreclearthanever。Therestoodone，inphysicalproportionandstaturecommandingandexact——inintellectrichlyendowed——innaturalelo-

quenceaprodigy——insoulmanifestly\"createdbutalittlelowerthantheangels\"——yetaslave，ay，afugi-

tiveslave，——tremblingforhissafety，hardlydaringtobelievethatontheAmericansoil，asinglewhitepersoncouldbefoundwhowouldbefriendhimatallhazards，fortheloveofGodandhumanity！Ca-

pableofhighattainmentsasanintellectualandmoralbeing——needingnothingbutacomparativelysmallamountofcultivationtomakehimanorna-

menttosocietyandablessingtohisrace——bythelawoftheland，bythevoiceofthepeople，bythetermsoftheslavecode，hewasonlyapieceofproperty，abeastofburden，achattelpersonal，nevertheless！

AbelovedfriendfromNewBedfordprevailedonMr。DOUGLASStoaddresstheconvention：Hecameforwardtotheplatformwithahesitancyandembar-

rassment，necessarilytheattendantsofasensitivemindinsuchanovelposition。Afterapologizingforhisignorance，andremindingtheaudiencethatslav-

erywasapoorschoolforthehumanintellectandheart，heproceededtonarratesomeofthefactsinhisownhistoryasaslave，andinthecourseofhisspeechgaveutterancetomanynoblethoughtsandthrillingreflections。Assoonashehadtakenhisseat，filledwithhopeandadmiration，Irose，anddeclaredthatPATRICKHENRY，ofrevolutionaryfame，nevermadeaspeechmoreeloquentinthecauseofliberty，thantheonewehadjustlistenedtofromthelipsofthathuntedfugitive。SoIbelievedatthattime——suchismybeliefnow。Iremindedtheaudienceoftheperilwhichsurroundedthisself-

emancipatedyoungmanattheNorth，——eveninMas-

sachusetts，onthesoilofthePilgrimFathers，amongthedescendantsofrevolutionarysires;andIap-

pealedtothem，whethertheywouldeverallowhimtobecarriedbackintoslavery，——lawornolaw，con-

stitutionornoconstitution。Theresponsewasunani-

mousandinthunder-tones——\"NO！\"\"Willyousuccorandprotecthimasabrother-man——aresidentoftheoldBayState？\"\"YES！\"shoutedthewholemass，withanenergysostartling，thattheruthlesstyrantssouthofMasonandDixon’slinemightalmosthaveheardthemightyburstoffeeling，andrecognizeditasthepledgeofaninvincibledetermination，onthepartofthosewhogaveit，nevertobetrayhimthatwanders，buttohidetheoutcast，andfirmlytoabidetheconsequences。

Itwasatoncedeeplyimpresseduponmymind，that，ifMr。DOUGLASScouldbepersuadedtoconse-

cratehistimeandtalentstothepromotionoftheanti-slaveryenterprise，apowerfulimpetuswouldbegiventoit，andastunningblowatthesametimeinflictedonnorthernprejudiceagainstacoloredcomplexion。Ithereforeendeavoredtoinstilhopeandcourageintohismind，inorderthathemightdaretoengageinavocationsoanomalousandre-

sponsibleforapersoninhissituation;andIwassecondedinthiseffortbywarm-heartedfriends，es-

peciallybythelateGeneralAgentoftheMassa-

chusettsAnti-SlaverySociety，Mr。JOHNA。COLLINS，whosejudgmentinthisinstanceentirelycoincidedwithmyown。Atfirst，hecouldgivenoencourage-

ment;withunfeigneddiffidence，heexpressedhisconvictionthathewasnotadequatetotheperform-

anceofsogreatatask;thepathmarkedoutwaswhollyanuntroddenone;hewassincerelyappre-

hensivethatheshoulddomoreharmthangood。

Aftermuchdeliberation，however，heconsentedtomakeatrial;andeversincethatperiod，hehasactedasalecturingagent，undertheauspiceseitheroftheAmericanortheMassachusettsAnti-SlaverySociety。

Inlaborshehasbeenmostabundant;andhissuccessincombatingprejudice，ingainingproselytes，inagi-

tatingthepublicmind，hasfarsurpassedthemostsanguineexpectationsthatwereraisedatthecom-

mencementofhisbrilliantcareer。Hehasbornehim-

selfwithgentlenessandmeekness，yetwithtruemanlinessofcharacter。Asapublicspeaker，heexcelsinpathos，wit，comparison，imitation，strengthofreasoning，andfluencyoflanguage。Thereisinhimthatunionofheadandheart，whichisindispensabletoanenlightenmentoftheheadsandawinningoftheheartsofothers。Mayhisstrengthcontinuetobeequaltohisday！Mayhecontinueto\"growingrace，andintheknowledgeofGod，\"thathemaybeincreasinglyserviceableinthecauseofbleedinghumanity，whetherathomeorabroad！

Itiscertainlyaveryremarkablefact，thatoneofthemostefficientadvocatesoftheslavepopulation，nowbeforethepublic，isafugitiveslave，inthepersonofFREDERICKDOUGLASS;andthatthefreecoloredpopulationoftheUnitedStatesareasablyrepresentedbyoneoftheirownnumber，intheper-

sonofCHARLESLENOXREMOND，whoseeloquentappealshaveextortedthehighestapplauseofmulti-

tudesonbothsidesoftheAtlantic。Letthecalum-

niatorsofthecoloredracedespisethemselvesfortheirbasenessandilliberalityofspirit，andhence-

forthceasetotalkofthenaturalinferiorityofthosewhorequirenothingbuttimeandopportunitytoattaintothehighestpointofhumanexcellence。

Itmay，perhaps，befairlyquestioned，whetheranyotherportionofthepopulationoftheearthcouldhaveenduredtheprivations，sufferingsandhorrorsofslavery，withouthavingbecomemoredegradedinthescaleofhumanitythantheslavesofAfricandescent。Nothinghasbeenleftundonetocrippletheirintellects，darkentheirminds，debasetheirmoralnature，obliteratealltracesoftheirrelation-

shiptomankind;andyethowwonderfullytheyhavesustainedthemightyloadofamostfrightfulbond-

age，underwhichtheyhavebeengroaningforcen-

turies！Toillustratetheeffectofslaveryonthewhiteman，——toshowthathehasnopowersofendurance，insuchacondition，superiortothoseofhisblackbrother，——DANIELO’CONNELL，thedistinguishedadvocateofuniversalemancipation，andthemighti-

estchampionofprostratebutnotconqueredIreland，relatesthefollowinganecdoteinaspeechdeliveredbyhimintheConciliationHall，Dublin，beforetheLoyalNationalRepealAssociation，March31，1845。

\"Nomatter，\"saidMr。O’CONNELL，\"underwhatspecioustermitmaydisguiseitself，slaveryisstillhideous。~Ithasanatural，aninevitabletendencytobrutalizeeverynoblefacultyofman。~AnAmericansailor，whowascastawayontheshoreofAfrica，wherehewaskeptinslaveryforthreeyears，was，attheexpirationofthatperiod，foundtobeimbrutedandstultified——hehadlostallreasoningpower;andhavingforgottenhisnativelanguage，couldonlyut-

tersomesavagegibberishbetweenArabicandEng-

lish，whichnobodycouldunderstand，andwhichevenhehimselffounddifficultyinpronouncing。SomuchforthehumanizinginfluenceofTHEDOMESTIC

INSTITUTION！\"Admittingthistohavebeenanex-

traordinarycaseofmentaldeterioration，itprovesatleastthatthewhiteslavecansinkaslowinthescaleofhumanityastheblackone。

Mr。DOUGLASShasveryproperlychosentowritehisownNarrative，inhisownstyle，andaccordingtothebestofhisability，ratherthantoemploysomeoneelse。Itis，therefore，entirelyhisownproduc-

tion;and，consideringhowlonganddarkwastheca-

reerhehadtorunasaslave，——howfewhavebeenhisopportunitiestoimprovehismindsincehebrokehisironfetters，——itis，inmyjudgment，highlycreditabletohisheadandheart。Hewhocanperuseitwithoutatearfuleye，aheavingbreast，anafflictedspirit，——

withoutbeingfilledwithanunutterableabhorrenceofslaveryandallitsabettors，andanimatedwithadeterminationtoseektheimmediateoverthrowofthatexecrablesystem，——withouttremblingforthefateofthiscountryinthehandsofarighteousGod，whoiseveronthesideoftheoppressed，andwhosearmisnotshortenedthatitcannotsave，——musthaveaflintyheart，andbequalifiedtoactthepartofatrafficker\"inslavesandthesoulsofmen。\"Iamcon-

fidentthatitisessentiallytrueinallitsstatements;

thatnothinghasbeensetdowninmalice，nothingexaggerated，nothingdrawnfromtheimagination;

thatitcomesshortofthereality，ratherthanover-

statesasinglefactinregardtoSLAVERYASITIS。

TheexperienceofFREDERICKDOUGLASS，asaslave，wasnotapeculiarone;hislotwasnotespeciallyahardone;hiscasemayberegardedasaveryfairspecimenofthetreatmentofslavesinMaryland，inwhichStateitisconcededthattheyarebetterfedandlesscruellytreatedthaninGeorgia，Alabama，orLouisiana。Manyhavesufferedincomparablymore，whileveryfewontheplantationshavesuf-

feredless，thanhimself。Yethowdeplorablewashissituation！whatterriblechastisementswereinflicteduponhisperson！whatstillmoreshockingoutrageswereperpetrateduponhismind！withallhisnoblepowersandsublimeaspirations，howlikeabrutewashetreated，evenbythoseprofessingtohavethesamemindinthemthatwasinChristJesus！towhatdreadfulliabilitieswashecontinuallysubjected！howdestituteoffriendlycounselandaid，eveninhisgreatestextremities！howheavywasthemidnightofwoewhichshroudedinblacknessthelastrayofhope，andfilledthefuturewithterrorandgloom！whatlongingsafterfreedomtookpossessionofhisbreast，andhowhismiseryaugmented，inproportionashegrewreflectiveandintelligent，——thusdemonstratingthatahappyslaveisanextinctman！howhethought，reasoned，felt，underthelashofthedriver，withthechainsuponhislimbs！whatperilsheen-

counteredinhisendeavorstoescapefromhishor-

ribledoom！andhowsignalhavebeenhisdeliveranceandpreservationinthemidstofanationofpitilessenemies！

ThisNarrativecontainsmanyaffectingincidents，manypassagesofgreateloquenceandpower;butI

thinkthemostthrillingoneofthemallisthede-

scriptionDOUGLASSgivesofhisfeelings，ashestoodsoliloquizingrespectinghisfate，andthechancesofhisonedaybeingafreeman，onthebanksoftheChesapeakeBay——viewingtherecedingvesselsastheyflewwiththeirwhitewingsbeforethebreeze，andapostrophizingthemasanimatedbythelivingspiritoffreedom。Whocanreadthatpassage，andbein-

sensibletoitspathosandsublimity？CompressedintoitisawholeAlexandrianlibraryofthought，feeling，andsentiment——allthatcan，allthatneedbeurged，intheformofexpostulation，entreaty，rebuke，againstthatcrimeofcrimes，——makingmantheprop-

ertyofhisfellow-man！O，howaccursedisthatsystem，whichentombsthegodlikemindofman，defacesthedivineimage，reducesthosewhobycrea-

tionwerecrownedwithgloryandhonortoalevelwithfour-footedbeasts，andexaltsthedealerinhu-

manfleshaboveallthatiscalledGod！Whyshoulditsexistencebeprolongedonehour？Isitnotevil，onlyevil，andthatcontinually？Whatdoesitspres-

enceimplybuttheabsenceofallfearofGod，allregardforman，onthepartofthepeopleoftheUnitedStates？Heavenspeeditseternaloverthrow！

Soprofoundlyignorantofthenatureofslaveryaremanypersons，thattheyarestubbornlyincredu-

louswhenevertheyreadorlistentoanyrecitalofthecrueltieswhicharedailyinflictedonitsvictims。

Theydonotdenythattheslavesareheldasprop-

erty;butthatterriblefactseemstoconveytotheirmindsnoideaofinjustice，exposuretooutrage，orsavagebarbarity。Tellthemofcruelscourgings，ofmutilationsandbrandings，ofscenesofpollutionandblood，ofthebanishmentofalllightandknowl-

edge，andtheyaffecttobegreatlyindignantatsuchenormousexaggerations，suchwholesalemisstate-

ments，suchabominablelibelsonthecharacterofthesouthernplanters！Asifallthesedirefuloutrageswerenotthenaturalresultsofslavery！Asifitwerelesscrueltoreduceahumanbeingtotheconditionofathing，thantogivehimasevereflagellation，ortodeprivehimofnecessaryfoodandclothing！

Asifwhips，chains，thumb-screws，paddles，blood-

hounds，overseers，drivers，patrols，werenotallin-

dispensabletokeeptheslavesdown，andtogiveprotectiontotheirruthlessoppressors！Asif，whenthemarriageinstitutionisabolished，concubinage，adultery，andincest，mustnotnecessarilyabound;

whenalltherightsofhumanityareannihilated，anybarrierremainstoprotectthevictimfromthefuryofthespoiler;whenabsolutepowerisassumedoverlifeandliberty，itwillnotbewieldedwithdestruc-

tivesway！Skepticsofthischaracteraboundinso-

ciety。Insomefewinstances，theirincredulityarisesfromawantofreflection;but，generally，itindicatesahatredofthelight，adesiretoshieldslaveryfromtheassaultsofitsfoes，acontemptofthecoloredrace，whetherbondorfree。SuchwilltrytodiscredittheshockingtalesofslaveholdingcrueltywhicharerecordedinthistruthfulNarrative;buttheywilllaborinvain。Mr。DOUGLASShasfranklydisclosedtheplaceofhisbirth，thenamesofthosewhoclaimedownershipinhisbodyandsoul，andthenamesalsoofthosewhocommittedthecrimeswhichhehasallegedagainstthem。Hisstatements，there-

fore，mayeasilybedisproved，iftheyareuntrue。

InthecourseofhisNarrative，herelatestwoin-

stancesofmurderouscruelty，——inoneofwhichaplanterdeliberatelyshotaslavebelongingtoaneigh-

boringplantation，whohadunintentionallygottenwithinhislordlydomaininquestoffish;andintheother，anoverseerblewoutthebrainsofaslavewhohadfledtoastreamofwatertoescapeabloodyscourging。Mr。DOUGLASSstatesthatinneitheroftheseinstanceswasanythingdonebywayoflegalarrestorjudicialinvestigation。TheBaltimoreAmer-

ican，ofMarch17，1845，relatesasimilarcaseofatrocity，perpetratedwithsimilarimpunity——asfol-

lows：——\"~Shootingaslave。~——Welearn，upontheau-

thorityofaletterfromCharlescounty，Maryland，receivedbyagentlemanofthiscity，thatayoungman，namedMatthews，anephewofGeneralMat-

thews，andwhosefather，itisbelieved，holdsanof-

ficeatWashington，killedoneoftheslavesuponhisfather’sfarmbyshootinghim。TheletterstatesthatyoungMatthewshadbeenleftinchargeofthefarm;

thathegaveanordertotheservant，whichwasdis-

obeyed，whenheproceededtothehouse，~obtainedagun，and，returning，shottheservant。~Heimmedi-

ately，thelettercontinues，fledtohisfather’sresi-

dence，wherehestillremainsunmolested。\"——Letitneverbeforgotten，thatnoslaveholderoroverseercanbeconvictedofanyoutrageperpetratedonthepersonofaslave，howeverdiabolicalitmaybe，onthetestimonyofcoloredwitnesses，whetherbondorfree。Bytheslavecode，theyareadjudgedtobeasincompetenttotestifyagainstawhiteman，asthoughtheywereindeedapartofthebrutecreation。

Hence，thereisnolegalprotectioninfact，whatevertheremaybeinform，fortheslavepopulation;andanyamountofcrueltymaybeinflictedonthemwithimpunity。Isitpossibleforthehumanmindtoconceiveofamorehorriblestateofsociety？

Theeffectofareligiousprofessionontheconductofsouthernmastersisvividlydescribedinthefol-

lowingNarrative，andshowntobeanythingbutsalutary。Inthenatureofthecase，itmustbeinthehighestdegreepernicious。ThetestimonyofMr。

DOUGLASS，onthispoint，issustainedbyacloudofwitnesses，whoseveracityisunimpeachable。\"Aslave-

holder’sprofessionofChristianityisapalpableim-

posture。Heisafelonofthehighestgrade。Heisaman-stealer。Itisofnoimportancewhatyouputintheotherscale。\"

Reader！areyouwiththeman-stealersinsympathyandpurpose，oronthesideoftheirdown-troddenvictims？Ifwiththeformer，thenareyouthefoeofGodandman。Ifwiththelatter，whatareyoupre-

paredtodoanddareintheirbehalf？Befaithful，bevigilant，beuntiringinyoureffortstobreakeveryyoke，andlettheoppressedgofree。Comewhatmay——costwhatitmay——inscribeonthebannerwhichyouunfurltothebreeze，asyourreligiousandpo-

liticalmotto——\"NOCOMPROMISEWITHSLAVERY！NO

UNIONWITHSLAVEHOLDERS！\"

WM。LLOYDGARRISON

BOSTON，~May~1，1845。

LETTER

FROMWENDELLPHILLIPS，ESQ。

BOSTON，APRIL22，1845。

MyDearFriend：

Youremembertheoldfableof\"TheManandtheLion，\"wherethelioncomplainedthatheshouldnotbesomisrepresented\"whenthelionswrotehis-

tory。\"

Iamgladthetimehascomewhenthe\"lionswritehistory。\"Wehavebeenleftlongenoughtogatherthecharacterofslaveryfromtheinvoluntaryevidenceofthemasters。Onemight，indeed，restsufficientlysatisfiedwithwhat，itisevident，mustbe，ingeneral，theresultsofsucharelation，with-

outseekingfarthertofindwhethertheyhavefol-

lowedineveryinstance。Indeed，thosewhostareatthehalf-peckofcornaweek，andlovetocountthelashesontheslave’sback，areseldomthe\"stuff\"outofwhichreformersandabolitionistsaretobemade。

Irememberthat，in1838，manywerewaitingfortheresultsoftheWestIndiaexperiment，beforetheycouldcomeintoourranks。Those\"results\"havecomelongago;but，alas！fewofthatnumberhavecomewiththem，asconverts。Amanmustbedis-

posedtojudgeofemancipationbyotherteststhanwhetherithasincreasedtheproduceofsugar，——andtohateslaveryforotherreasonsthanbecauseitstarvesmenandwhipswomen，——beforeheisreadytolaythefirststoneofhisanti-slaverylife。

Iwasgladtolearn，inyourstory，howearlythemostneglectedofGod’schildrenwakentoasenseoftheirrights，andoftheinjusticedonethem。Ex-

perienceisakeenteacher;andlongbeforeyouhadmasteredyourABC，orknewwherethe\"whitesails\"oftheChesapeakewerebound，youbegan，I

see，togaugethewretchednessoftheslave，notbyhishungerandwant，notbyhislashesandtoil，butbythecruelandblightingdeathwhichgathersoverhissoul。

Inconnectionwiththis，thereisonecircumstancewhichmakesyourrecollectionspeculiarlyvaluable，andrendersyourearlyinsightthemoreremarkable。

Youcomefromthatpartofthecountrywherewearetoldslaveryappearswithitsfairestfeatures。Letushear，then，whatitisatitsbestestate——gazeonitsbrightside，ifithasone;andthenimaginationmaytaskherpowerstoadddarklinestothepicture，asshetravelssouthwardtothat（forthecoloredman）ValleyoftheShadowofDeath，wheretheMississippisweepsalong。

Again，wehaveknownyoulong，andcanputthemostentireconfidenceinyourtruth，candor，andsincerity。Everyonewhohasheardyouspeakhasfelt，and，Iamconfident，everyonewhoreadsyourbookwillfeel，persuadedthatyougivethemafairspecimenofthewholetruth。Noone-sidedportrait，——nowholesalecomplaints，——butstrictjusticedone，wheneverindividualkindlinesshasneutralized，foramoment，thedeadlysystemwithwhichitwasstrangelyallied。Youhavebeenwithus，too，someyears，andcanfairlycomparethetwilightofrights，whichyourraceenjoyattheNorth，withthat\"noonofnight\"underwhichtheylaborsouthofMasonandDixon’sline。Telluswhether，afterall，thehalf-

freecoloredmanofMassachusettsisworseoffthanthepamperedslaveofthericeswamps！

Inreadingyourlife，noonecansaythatwehaveunfairlypickedoutsomerarespecimensofcruelty。

Weknowthatthebitterdrops，whichevenyouhavedrainedfromthecup，arenoincidentalaggravations，noindividualills，butsuchasmustminglealwaysandnecessarilyinthelotofeveryslave。Theyaretheessentialingredients，nottheoccasionalresults，ofthesystem。

Afterall，Ishallreadyourbookwithtremblingforyou。Someyearsago，whenyouwerebeginningtotellmeyourrealnameandbirthplace，youmayrememberIstoppedyou，andpreferredtoremainignorantofall。Withtheexceptionofavaguede-

scription，soIcontinued，tilltheotherday，whenyoureadmeyourmemoirs。Ihardlyknew，atthetime，whethertothankyouornotforthesightofthem，whenIreflectedthatitwasstilldangerous，inMassachusetts，forhonestmentotelltheirnames！

Theysaythefathers，in1776，signedtheDeclarationofIndependencewiththehalterabouttheirnecks。

You，too，publishyourdeclarationoffreedomwithdangercompassingyouaround。InallthebroadlandswhichtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesover-

shadows，thereisnosinglespot，——howevernarrowordesolate，——whereafugitiveslavecanplanthimselfandsay，\"Iamsafe。\"ThewholearmoryofNorth-

ernLawhasnoshieldforyou。Iamfreetosaythat，inyourplace，IshouldthrowtheMS。intothefire。

You，perhaps，maytellyourstoryinsafety，en-

dearedasyouaretosomanywarmheartsbyraregifts，andastillrarerdevotionofthemtotheserviceofothers。Butitwillbeowingonlytoyourlabors，andthefearlesseffortsofthosewho，tramplingthelawsandConstitutionofthecountryundertheirfeet，aredeterminedthattheywill\"hidetheout-

cast，\"andthattheirhearthsshallbe，spiteofthelaw，anasylumfortheoppressed，if，sometimeorother，thehumblestmaystandinourstreets，andbearwitnessinsafetyagainstthecrueltiesofwhichhehasbeenthevictim。

Yetitissadtothink，thattheseverythrobbingheartswhichwelcomeyourstory，andformyourbestsafeguardintellingit，areallbeatingcontrarytothe\"statuteinsuchcasemadeandprovided。\"Goon，mydearfriend，tillyou，andthosewho，likeyou，havebeensaved，soasbyfire，fromthedarkprison-

house，shallstereotypethesefree，illegalpulsesintostatutes;andNewEngland，cuttingloosefromablood-stainedUnion，shallgloryinbeingthehouseofrefugefortheoppressed，——tillwenolongermerely\"~hide~theoutcast，\"ormakeameritofstandingidlybywhileheishuntedinourmidst;but，consecrat-

inganewthesoilofthePilgrimsasanasylumfortheoppressed，proclaimourWELCOMEtotheslavesoloudly，thatthetonesshallreacheveryhutintheCarolinas，andmakethebroken-heartedbondmanleapupatthethoughtofoldMassachusetts。

Godspeedtheday！

~Tillthen，andever，~

~Yourstruly，~

~WENDELLPHILLIPS~

FREDERICKDOUGLASS。

FrederickDouglasswasborninslaveryasFred-

erickAugustusWashingtonBaileynearEastoninTalbotCounty，Maryland。Hewasnotsureoftheexactyearofhisbirth，butheknewthatitwas1817

or1818。AsayoungboyhewassenttoBaltimore，tobeahouseservant，wherehelearnedtoreadandwrite，withtheassistanceofhismaster’swife。In1838heescapedfromslaveryandwenttoNewYorkCity，wherehemarriedAnnaMurray，afreecoloredwomanwhomhehadmetinBaltimore。Soonthere-

afterhechangedhisnametoFrederickDouglass。

In1841headdressedaconventionoftheMassa-

chusettsAnti-SlaverySocietyinNantucketandsogreatlyimpressedthegroupthattheyimmediatelyemployedhimasanagent。Hewassuchanimpres-

siveoratorthatnumerouspersonsdoubtedifhehadeverbeenaslave，sohewroteNARRATIVEOFTHELIFE

OFFREDERICKDOUGLASS。DuringtheCivilWarheas-

sistedintherecruitingofcoloredmenforthe54thand55thMassachusettsRegimentsandconsistentlyarguedfortheemancipationofslaves。Afterthewarhewasactiveinsecuringandprotectingtherightsofthefreemen。Inhislateryears，atdifferenttimes，hewassecretaryoftheSantoDomingoCommission，marshallandrecorderofdeedsoftheDistrictofColumbia，andUnitedStatesMinistertoHaiti。HisotherautobiographicalworksareMYBONDAGEAND

MYFREEDOMandLIFEANDTIMESOFFREDERICK

DOUGLASS，publishedin1855and1881respectively。

Hediedin1895。

CHAPTERI

IwasborninTuckahoe，nearHillsborough，andabouttwelvemilesfromEaston，inTalbotcounty，Maryland。Ihavenoaccurateknowledgeofmyage，neverhavingseenanyauthenticrecordcontainingit。

Byfarthelargerpartoftheslavesknowaslittleoftheiragesashorsesknowoftheirs，anditisthewishofmostmasterswithinmyknowledgetokeeptheirslavesthusignorant。Idonotremembertohaveevermetaslavewhocouldtellofhisbirthday。Theyseldomcomenearertoitthanplanting-time，harvest-

time，cherry-time，spring-time，orfall-time。Awantofinformationconcerningmyownwasasourceofunhappinesstomeevenduringchildhood。Thewhitechildrencouldtelltheirages。IcouldnottellwhyI

oughttobedeprivedofthesameprivilege。Iwasnotallowedtomakeanyinquiriesofmymastercon-

cerningit。Hedeemedallsuchinquiriesonthepartofaslaveimproperandimpertinent，andevidenceofarestlessspirit。ThenearestestimateIcangivemakesmenowbetweentwenty-sevenandtwenty-

eightyearsofage。Icometothis，fromhearingmymastersay，sometimeduring1835，Iwasaboutseventeenyearsold。

MymotherwasnamedHarrietBailey。ShewasthedaughterofIsaacandBetseyBailey，bothcol-

ored，andquitedark。Mymotherwasofadarkercomplexionthaneithermygrandmotherorgrand-

father。

Myfatherwasawhiteman。HewasadmittedtobesuchbyallIeverheardspeakofmyparentage。

Theopinionwasalsowhisperedthatmymasterwasmyfather;butofthecorrectnessofthisopinion，I

knownothing;themeansofknowingwaswithheldfromme。MymotherandIwereseparatedwhenI

wasbutaninfant——beforeIknewherasmymother。

Itisacommoncustom，inthepartofMarylandfromwhichIranaway，topartchildrenfromtheirmothersataveryearlyage。Frequently，beforethechildhasreacheditstwelfthmonth，itsmotheristakenfromit，andhiredoutonsomefarmacon-

siderabledistanceoff，andthechildisplacedunderthecareofanoldwoman，toooldforfieldlabor。

Forwhatthisseparationisdone，Idonotknow，unlessitbetohinderthedevelopmentofthechild’saffectiontowarditsmother，andtobluntanddestroythenaturalaffectionofthemotherforthechild。

Thisistheinevitableresult。

Ineversawmymother，toknowherassuch，morethanfourorfivetimesinmylife;andeachofthesetimeswasveryshortinduration，andatnight。ShewashiredbyaMr。Stewart，wholivedabouttwelvemilesfrommyhome。Shemadeherjourneystoseemeinthenight，travellingthewholedistanceonfoot，aftertheperformanceofherday’swork。Shewasafieldhand，andawhippingisthepenaltyofnotbeinginthefieldatsunrise，unlessaslavehasspecialpermissionfromhisorhermastertothecon-

trary——apermissionwhichtheyseldomget，andonethatgivestohimthatgivesittheproudnameofbeingakindmaster。Idonotrecollectofeverseeingmymotherbythelightofday。Shewaswithmeinthenight。Shewouldliedownwithme，andgetmetosleep，butlongbeforeIwakedshewasgone。Verylittlecommunicationevertookplacebetweenus。

Deathsoonendedwhatlittlewecouldhavewhileshelived，andwithitherhardshipsandsuffering。

ShediedwhenIwasaboutsevenyearsold，ononeofmymaster’sfarms，nearLee’sMill。Iwasnotal-

lowedtobepresentduringherillness，atherdeath，orburial。ShewasgonelongbeforeIknewanythingaboutit。Neverhavingenjoyed，toanyconsiderableextent，hersoothingpresence，hertenderandwatch-

fulcare，IreceivedthetidingsofherdeathwithmuchthesameemotionsIshouldhaveprobablyfeltatthedeathofastranger。

Calledthussuddenlyaway，sheleftmewithouttheslightestintimationofwhomyfatherwas。Thewhisperthatmymasterwasmyfather，mayormaynotbetrue;and，trueorfalse，itisofbutlittlecon-

sequencetomypurposewhilstthefactremains，inallitsglaringodiousness，thatslaveholdershaveordained，andbylawestablished，thatthechildrenofslavewomenshallinallcasesfollowthecondi-

tionoftheirmothers;andthisisdonetooobviouslytoadministertotheirownlusts，andmakeagrati-

ficationoftheirwickeddesiresprofitableaswellaspleasurable;forbythiscunningarrangement，theslaveholder，incasesnotafew，sustainstohisslavesthedoublerelationofmasterandfather。

Iknowofsuchcases;anditisworthyofremarkthatsuchslavesinvariablysuffergreaterhardships，andhavemoretocontendwith，thanothers。Theyare，inthefirstplace，aconstantoffencetotheirmistress。Sheiseverdisposedtofindfaultwiththem;

theycanseldomdoanythingtopleaseher;sheisneverbetterpleasedthanwhensheseesthemunderthelash，especiallywhenshesuspectsherhusbandofshowingtohismulattochildrenfavorswhichhewithholdsfromhisblackslaves。Themasterisfre-

quentlycompelledtosellthisclassofhisslaves，outofdeferencetothefeelingsofhiswhitewife;and，cruelasthedeedmaystrikeanyonetobe，foramantosellhisownchildrentohumanflesh-mongers，itisoftenthedictateofhumanityforhimtodoso;

for，unlesshedoesthis，hemustnotonlywhipthemhimself，butmuststandbyandseeonewhitesontieuphisbrother，ofbutfewshadesdarkercom-

plexionthanhimself，andplythegorylashtohisnakedback;andifhelisponewordofdisapproval，itissetdowntohisparentalpartiality，andonlymakesabadmatterworse，bothforhimselfandtheslavewhomhewouldprotectanddefend。

Everyyearbringswithitmultitudesofthisclassofslaves。Itwasdoubtlessinconsequenceofaknowl-

edgeofthisfact，thatonegreatstatesmanofthesouthpredictedthedownfallofslaverybythein-

evitablelawsofpopulation。Whetherthisprophecyiseverfulfilledornot，itisneverthelessplainthataverydifferent-lookingclassofpeoplearespringingupatthesouth，andarenowheldinslavery，fromthoseoriginallybroughttothiscountryfromAfrica;andiftheirincreasedonoothergood，itwilldoawaytheforceoftheargument，thatGodcursedHam，andthereforeAmericanslaveryisright。IfthelinealdescendantsofHamarealonetobescriptur-

allyenslaved，itiscertainthatslaveryatthesouthmustsoonbecomeunscriptural;forthousandsareusheredintotheworld，annually，who，likemyself，owetheirexistencetowhitefathers，andthosefa-

thersmostfrequentlytheirownmasters。

Ihavehadtwomasters。Myfirstmaster’snamewasAnthony。Idonotrememberhisfirstname。

HewasgenerallycalledCaptainAnthony——atitlewhich，Ipresume，heacquiredbysailingacraftontheChesapeakeBay。Hewasnotconsideredarichslaveholder。Heownedtwoorthreefarms，andaboutthirtyslaves。Hisfarmsandslaveswereunderthecareofanoverseer。Theoverseer’snamewasPlummer。Mr。Plummerwasamiserabledrunkard，aprofaneswearer，andasavagemonster。Healwayswentarmedwithacowskinandaheavycudgel。I

haveknownhimtocutandslashthewomen’sheadssohorribly，thatevenmasterwouldbeenragedathiscruelty，andwouldthreatentowhiphimifhedidnotmindhimself。Master，however，wasnotahumaneslaveholder。Itrequiredextraordinarybar-

barityonthepartofanoverseertoaffecthim。Hewasacruelman，hardenedbyalonglifeofslave-

holding。Hewouldattimesseemtotakegreatpleas-

ureinwhippingaslave。Ihaveoftenbeenawakenedatthedawnofdaybythemostheart-rendingshrieksofanownauntofmine，whomheusedtotieuptoajoist，andwhipuponhernakedbacktillshewasliterallycoveredwithblood。Nowords，notears，noprayers，fromhisgoryvictim，seemedtomovehisironheartfromitsbloodypurpose。Theloudershescreamed，theharderhewhipped;andwherethebloodranfastest，therehewhippedlongest。Hewouldwhiphertomakeherscream，andwhiphertomakeherhush;andnotuntilovercomebyfatigue，wouldheceasetoswingtheblood-clottedcowskin。

IrememberthefirsttimeIeverwitnessedthishor-

ribleexhibition。Iwasquiteachild，butIwellre-

memberit。InevershallforgetitwhilstIrememberanything。Itwasthefirstofalongseriesofsuchout-

rages，ofwhichIwasdoomedtobeawitnessandaparticipant。Itstruckmewithawfulforce。Itwastheblood-stainedgate，theentrancetothehellofslavery，throughwhichIwasabouttopass。Itwasamostterriblespectacle。IwishIcouldcommittopaperthefeelingswithwhichIbeheldit。

ThisoccurrencetookplaceverysoonafterIwenttolivewithmyoldmaster，andunderthefollowingcircumstances。AuntHesterwentoutonenight，——

whereorforwhatIdonotknow，——andhappenedtobeabsentwhenmymasterdesiredherpresence。Hehadorderedhernottogooutevenings，andwarnedherthatshemustneverlethimcatchherincom-

panywithayoungman，whowaspayingattentiontoherbelongingtoColonelLloyd。Theyoungman’snamewasNedRoberts，generallycalledLloyd’sNed。Whymasterwassocarefulofher，maybesafelylefttoconjecture。Shewasawomanofnobleform，andofgracefulproportions，havingveryfewequals，andfewersuperiors，inpersonalappearance，amongthecoloredorwhitewomenofourneighbor-

hood。

AuntHesterhadnotonlydisobeyedhisordersingoingout，buthadbeenfoundincompanywithLloyd’sNed;whichcircumstance，Ifound，fromwhathesaidwhilewhippingher，wasthechiefof-

fence。Hadhebeenamanofpuremoralshimself，hemighthavebeenthoughtinterestedinprotectingtheinnocenceofmyaunt;butthosewhoknewhimwillnotsuspecthimofanysuchvirtue。BeforehecommencedwhippingAuntHester，hetookherintothekitchen，andstrippedherfromnecktowaist，leavingherneck，shoulders，andback，entirelynaked。Hethentoldhertocrossherhands，callingheratthesametimead————db——-h。Aftercrossingherhands，hetiedthemwithastrongrope，andledhertoastoolunderalargehookinthejoist，putinforthepurpose。Hemadehergetuponthestool，andtiedherhandstothehook。Shenowstoodfairforhisinfernalpurpose。Herarmswerestretchedupattheirfulllength，sothatshestoodupontheendsofhertoes。Hethensaidtoher，\"Now，youd————db——-h，I’lllearnyouhowtodisobeymyorders！\"andafterrollinguphissleeves，hecom-

mencedtolayontheheavycowskin，andsoonthewarm，redblood（amidheart-rendingshrieksfromher，andhorridoathsfromhim）camedrippingtothefloor。Iwassoterrifiedandhorror-strickenatthesight，thatIhidmyselfinacloset，anddarednotventureouttilllongafterthebloodytransactionwasover。Iexpecteditwouldbemyturnnext。Itwasallnewtome。Ihadneverseenanythinglikeitbefore。Ihadalwayslivedwithmygrandmotherontheoutskirtsoftheplantation，whereshewasputtoraisethechildrenoftheyoungerwomen。Ihadthere-

forebeen，untilnow，outofthewayofthebloodyscenesthatoftenoccurredontheplantation。

CHAPTERII

Mymaster’sfamilyconsistedoftwosons，AndrewandRichard;onedaughter，Lucretia，andherhus-

band，CaptainThomasAuld。Theylivedinonehouse，uponthehomeplantationofColonelEdwardLloyd。MymasterwasColonelLloyd’sclerkandsuperintendent。Hewaswhatmightbecalledtheoverseeroftheoverseers。Ispenttwoyearsofchild-

hoodonthisplantationinmyoldmaster’sfamily。

ItwasherethatIwitnessedthebloodytransactionrecordedinthefirstchapter;andasIreceivedmyfirstimpressionsofslaveryonthisplantation，Iwillgivesomedescriptionofit，andofslaveryasitthereexisted。TheplantationisabouttwelvemilesnorthofEaston，inTalbotcounty，andissituatedontheborderofMilesRiver。Theprincipalproductsraiseduponitweretobacco，corn，andwheat。Thesewereraisedingreatabundance;sothat，withtheproductsofthisandtheotherfarmsbelongingtohim，hewasabletokeepinalmostconstantem-

ploymentalargesloop，incarryingthemtomarketatBaltimore。ThissloopwasnamedSallyLloyd，inhonorofoneofthecolonel’sdaughters。Mymas-

ter’sson-in-law，CaptainAuld，wasmasterofthevessel;shewasotherwisemannedbythecolonel’sownslaves。TheirnameswerePeter，Isaac，Rich，andJake。Thesewereesteemedveryhighlybytheotherslaves，andlookeduponastheprivilegedonesoftheplantation;foritwasnosmallaffair，intheeyesoftheslaves，tobeallowedtoseeBaltimore。

ColonelLloydkeptfromthreetofourhundredslavesonhishomeplantation，andownedalargenumbermoreontheneighboringfarmsbelongingtohim。ThenamesofthefarmsnearesttothehomeplantationwereWyeTownandNewDesign。\"WyeTown\"wasundertheoverseershipofamannamedNoahWillis。NewDesignwasundertheoverseer-

shipofaMr。Townsend。Theoverseersofthese，andalltherestofthefarms，numberingovertwenty，receivedadviceanddirectionfromthemanagersofthehomeplantation。Thiswasthegreatbusinessplace。Itwastheseatofgovernmentforthewholetwentyfarms。Alldisputesamongtheoverseersweresettledhere。Ifaslavewasconvictedofanyhighmisdemeanor，becameunmanageable，orevincedadeterminationtorunaway，hewasbroughtimmedi-

atelyhere，severelywhipped，putonboardthesloop，carriedtoBaltimore，andsoldtoAustinWoolfolk，orsomeotherslave-trader，asawarningtotheslavesremaining。

Here，too，theslavesofalltheotherfarmsreceivedtheirmonthlyallowanceoffood，andtheiryearlyclothing。Themenandwomenslavesreceived，astheirmonthlyallowanceoffood，eightpoundsofpork，oritsequivalentinfish，andonebushelofcornmeal。Theiryearlyclothingconsistedoftwocoarselinenshirts，onepairoflinentrousers，liketheshirts，onejacket，onepairoftrousersforwinter，madeofcoarsenegrocloth，onepairofstockings，andonepairofshoes;thewholeofwhichcouldnothavecostmorethansevendollars。Theallowanceoftheslavechildrenwasgiventotheirmothers，ortheoldwomenhavingthecareofthem。Thechil-

drenunabletoworkinthefieldhadneithershoes，stockings，jackets，nortrousers，giventothem;theirclothingconsistedoftwocoarselinenshirtsperyear。

Whenthesefailedthem，theywentnakeduntilthenextallowance-day。Childrenfromseventotenyearsold，ofbothsexes，almostnaked，mightbeseenatallseasonsoftheyear。

Therewerenobedsgiventheslaves，unlessonecoarseblanketbeconsideredsuch，andnonebutthemenandwomenhadthese。This，however，isnotconsideredaverygreatprivation。Theyfindlessdifficultyfromthewantofbeds，thanfromthewantoftimetosleep;forwhentheirday’sworkinthefieldisdone，themostofthemhavingtheirwash-

ing，mending，andcookingtodo，andhavingfewornoneoftheordinaryfacilitiesfordoingeitherofthese，verymanyoftheirsleepinghoursarecon-

sumedinpreparingforthefieldthecomingday;

andwhenthisisdone，oldandyoung，maleandfemale，marriedandsingle，dropdownsidebyside，ononecommonbed，——thecold，dampfloor，——eachcoveringhimselforherselfwiththeirmiserableblankets;andheretheysleeptilltheyaresummonedtothefieldbythedriver’shorn。Atthesoundofthis，allmustrise，andbeofftothefield。Theremustbenohalting;everyonemustbeathisorherpost;andwoebetidesthemwhohearnotthismorningsummonstothefield;foriftheyarenotawakenedbythesenseofhearing，theyarebythesenseoffeeling：noagenorsexfindsanyfavor。

Mr。Severe，theoverseer，usedtostandbythedoorofthequarter，armedwithalargehickorystickandheavycowskin，readytowhipanyonewhowassounfortunateasnottohear，or，fromanyothercause，waspreventedfrombeingreadytostartforthefieldatthesoundofthehorn。

Mr。Severewasrightlynamed：hewasacruelman。Ihaveseenhimwhipawoman，causingthebloodtorunhalfanhouratthetime;andthis，too，inthemidstofhercryingchildren，pleadingfortheirmother’srelease。Heseemedtotakepleasureinmanifestinghisfiendishbarbarity。Addedtohiscruelty，hewasaprofaneswearer。Itwasenoughtochillthebloodandstiffenthehairofanordinarymantohearhimtalk。Scarceasentenceescapedhimbutthatwascommencedorconcludedbysomehor-

ridoath。Thefieldwastheplacetowitnesshiscrueltyandprofanity。Hispresencemadeitboththefieldofbloodandofblasphemy。Fromtherisingtillthegoingdownofthesun，hewascursing，raving，cutting，andslashingamongtheslavesofthefield，inthemostfrightfulmanner。Hiscareerwasshort。

HediedverysoonafterIwenttoColonelLloyd’s;

andhediedashelived，uttering，withhisdyinggroans，bittercursesandhorridoaths。Hisdeathwasregardedbytheslavesastheresultofamercifulprovidence。

Mr。Severe’splacewasfilledbyaMr。Hopkins。

Hewasaverydifferentman。Hewaslesscruel，lessprofane，andmadelessnoise，thanMr。Severe。Hiscoursewascharacterizedbynoextraordinarydemon-

strationsofcruelty。Hewhipped，butseemedtotakenopleasureinit。Hewascalledbytheslavesagoodoverseer。

ThehomeplantationofColonelLloydworetheappearanceofacountryvillage。Allthemechanicaloperationsforallthefarmswereperformedhere。

Theshoemakingandmending，theblacksmithing，cartwrighting，coopering，weaving，andgrain-grind-

ing，wereallperformedbytheslavesonthehomeplantation。Thewholeplaceworeabusiness-likeas-

pectveryunliketheneighboringfarms。Thenum-

berofhouses，too，conspiredtogiveitadvantageovertheneighboringfarms。Itwascalledbytheslavesthe~GreatHouseFarm。~Fewprivilegeswereesteemedhigher，bytheslavesoftheout-farms，thanthatofbeingselectedtodoerrandsattheGreatHouseFarm。Itwasassociatedintheirmindswithgreatness。ArepresentativecouldnotbeprouderofhiselectiontoaseatintheAmericanCongress，thanaslaveononeoftheout-farmswouldbeofhiselectiontodoerrandsattheGreatHouseFarm。

Theyregardeditasevidenceofgreatconfidencere-

posedinthembytheiroverseers;anditwasonthisaccount，aswellasaconstantdesiretobeoutofthefieldfromunderthedriver’slash，thattheyes-

teemeditahighprivilege，oneworthcarefullivingfor。Hewascalledthesmartestandmosttrustyfel-

low，whohadthishonorconferreduponhimthemostfrequently。Thecompetitorsforthisofficesoughtasdiligentlytopleasetheiroverseers，astheoffice-seekersinthepoliticalpartiesseektopleaseanddeceivethepeople。ThesametraitsofcharactermightbeseeninColonelLloyd’sslaves，asareseenintheslavesofthepoliticalparties。

TheslavesselectedtogototheGreatHouseFarm，forthemonthlyallowanceforthemselvesandtheirfellow-slaves，werepeculiarlyenthusiastic。Whileontheirway，theywouldmakethedenseoldwoods，formilesaround，reverberatewiththeirwildsongs，revealingatoncethehighestjoyandthedeepestsadness。Theywouldcomposeandsingastheywentalong，consultingneithertimenortune。Thethoughtthatcameup，cameout——ifnotintheword，inthesound;——andasfrequentlyintheoneasintheother。

Theywouldsometimessingthemostpatheticsenti-

mentinthemostrapturoustone，andthemostrap-

turoussentimentinthemostpathetictone。Intoalloftheirsongstheywouldmanagetoweavesome-

thingoftheGreatHouseFarm。Especiallywouldtheydothis，whenleavinghome。Theywouldthensingmostexultinglythefollowingwords：——

\"IamgoingawaytotheGreatHouseFarm！

O，yea！O，yea！O！\"

Thistheywouldsing，asachorus，towordswhichtomanywouldseemunmeaningjargon，butwhich，nevertheless，werefullofmeaningtothemselves。I

havesometimesthoughtthatthemerehearingofthosesongswoulddomoretoimpresssomemindswiththehorriblecharacterofslavery，thantheread-

ingofwholevolumesofphilosophyonthesubjectcoulddo。

Ididnot，whenaslave，understandthedeepmeaningofthoserudeandapparentlyincoherentsongs。Iwasmyselfwithinthecircle;sothatInei-

thersawnorheardasthosewithoutmightseeandhear。Theytoldataleofwoewhichwasthenal-

togetherbeyondmyfeeblecomprehension;theyweretonesloud，long，anddeep;theybreathedtheprayerandcomplaintofsoulsboilingoverwiththebitterestanguish。Everytonewasatestimonyagainstslavery，andaprayertoGodfordeliverancefromchains。Thehearingofthosewildnotesalwaysde-

pressedmyspirit，andfilledmewithineffablesad-

ness。Ihavefrequentlyfoundmyselfintearswhilehearingthem。Themererecurrencetothosesongs，evennow，afflictsme;andwhileIamwritingtheselines，anexpressionoffeelinghasalreadyfounditswaydownmycheek。TothosesongsItracemyfirstglimmeringconceptionofthedehumanizingchar-

acterofslavery。Icannevergetridofthatconcep-

tion。Thosesongsstillfollowme，todeepenmyhatredofslavery，andquickenmysympathiesformybrethreninbonds。Ifanyonewishestobeim-

pressedwiththesoul-killingeffectsofslavery，lethimgotoColonelLloyd’splantation，and，onallow-

ance-day，placehimselfinthedeeppinewoods，andtherelethim，insilence，analyzethesoundsthatshallpassthroughthechambersofhissoul，——andifheisnotthusimpressed，itwillonlybebecause\"thereisnofleshinhisobdurateheart。\"

Ihaveoftenbeenutterlyastonished，sinceIcametothenorth，tofindpersonswhocouldspeakofthesinging，amongslaves，asevidenceoftheircon-

tentmentandhappiness。Itisimpossibletoconceiveofagreatermistake。Slavessingmostwhentheyaremostunhappy。Thesongsoftheslaverepresentthesorrowsofhisheart;andheisrelievedbythem，onlyasanachingheartisrelievedbyitstears。Atleast，suchismyexperience。Ihaveoftensungtodrownmysorrow，butseldomtoexpressmyhappiness。

Cryingforjoy，andsingingforjoy，werealikeun-

commontomewhileinthejawsofslavery。Thesingingofamancastawayuponadesolateislandmightbeasappropriatelyconsideredasevidenceofcontentmentandhappiness，asthesingingofaslave;thesongsoftheoneandoftheotherarepromptedbythesameemotion。

CHAPTERIII

ColonelLloydkeptalargeandfinelycultivatedgarden，whichaffordedalmostconstantemploymentforfourmen，besidesthechiefgardener，（Mr。

M’Durmond。）Thisgardenwasprobablythegreat-

estattractionoftheplace。Duringthesummermonths，peoplecamefromfarandnear——fromBaltimore，Easton，andAnnapolis——toseeit。Itaboundedinfruitsofalmosteverydescription，fromthehardyappleofthenorthtothedelicateorangeofthesouth。Thisgardenwasnottheleastsourceoftroubleontheplantation。Itsexcellentfruitwasquiteatemptationtothehungryswarmsofboys，aswellastheolderslaves，belongingtothecolonel，fewofwhomhadthevirtueorthevicetoresistit。Scarcelyadaypassed，duringthesummer，butthatsomeslavehadtotakethelashforstealingfruit。

Thecolonelhadtoresorttoallkindsofstratagemstokeephisslavesoutofthegarden。Thelastandmostsuccessfulonewasthatoftarringhisfenceallaround;afterwhich，ifaslavewascaughtwithanytaruponhisperson，itwasdeemedsufficientproofthathehadeitherbeenintothegarden，orhadtriedtogetin。Ineithercase，hewasseverelywhip-

pedbythechiefgardener。Thisplanworkedwell;

theslavesbecameasfearfuloftarasofthelash。

TheyseemedtorealizetheimpossibilityoftouchingTARwithoutbeingdefiled。

Thecolonelalsokeptasplendidridingequipage。

Hisstableandcarriage-housepresentedtheappear-

anceofsomeofourlargecityliveryestablishments。

Hishorseswereofthefinestformandnoblestblood。

Hiscarriage-housecontainedthreesplendidcoaches，threeorfourgigs，besidesdearbornsandbarouchesofthemostfashionablestyle。

Thisestablishmentwasunderthecareoftwoslaves——oldBarneyandyoungBarney——fatherandson。

Toattendtothisestablishmentwastheirsolework。