Life and Times, First Part

CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. FIRST PART.

CHAPTER I. AUTHOR'S BIRTH.

Author's place of birth—Description of country —Its inhabitants—Genealogical trees—Method of counting time in slave districts—Date of author's birth—Names of grandparents—Their cabin—Home with them—Slave practice of separating mothers from their children—Author's recollections of his mother—Who was his father?... 23

CHAPTER II. REMOVAL FROM GRANDMOTHER'S.

Author's early home—Its charms—Author's ignorance of "old master"—His gradual perception of the truth concerning him—His relations to Col. Edward Lloyd— Author's removal to "old master's" home—His journey thence—His separation from his grandmother—His grief... 25

CHAPTER III. TROUBLES OF CHILDHOOD.

Captain Lloyd's plantation—Aunt Katy— Her cruelty and ill-nature—Capt. Anthony's partiality to Aunt Katy—Allowance of food—Author's hunger—Unexpected rescue by his mother—The reproof of Aunt Katy—Sleep—A slave mother's love— Author's inheritance—His mother's acquirements—Her death... 28

CHAPTER IV. A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE SLAVE PLANTATION.

Home plantation of Colonel Lloyd—Its isolation—Its industries—The slave rule— Power of overseers—Author finds some enjoyment—Natural scenery—Sloop "Sally Lloyd"—Wind mill—Slave quarter—"Old master's" house—Stables, store houses, etc., etc.—The great house—Its surroundings—Lloyd Burial-place— Superstition of slaves—Colonel Lloyd's wealth—Negro politeness—Doctor Copper—Captain Anthony—His family—Master Daniel Lloyd—His brothers—Social etiquette... 30

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12 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

CHAPTER V. A SLAVEHOLDER'S CHARACTER.

Increasing acquaintance with old master — Evils of unresisted passion — Apparent tenderness — A man of trouble — Custom of muttering to himself — Brutal outrage — A drunken overseer — Slaveholder's impatience — Wisdom of appeal — A base and selfish attempt to break up a courtship............................................. 37

CHAPTER VI. A CHILD ' S REASONING.

The author's early reflections on slavery — Aunt Jennie and Uncle Noah — Presentiment of one day becoming a freeman — Conflict between an overseer and a slave woman — Advantage of resistance — Death of an overseer — Col. Lloyd's plantation home — Monthly distribution of food — Singing of slaves — An explanation — The slaves' food and clothing — Naked children — Life in the quarter — Sleeping places — not beds — Deprivation of sleep — Care of nursing babies — Ash cake — Contrast... 40

CHAPTER VII. LUXURIES AT THE GREAT HOUSE.

Contrasts — Great House luxuries — Its hospitality — Entertainments —Fault-finding — Shameful humiliation of an old and faithful coachman — William Wilks — Curious incident — Expressed satisfaction not always genuine — Reasons for suppressing the truth... 46

CHAPTER VIII. CHARACTERISTICS OF OVERSEERS.

Austin Gore — Sketch of his character — Overseers as a class — Their peculiar characteristics — The marked individuality of Austin Gore — His sense of duty — Murder of poor Denby — Sensation — How Gore made his peace with Col. Lloyd — Other horrible murders — No laws for the protection of slaves possible of being enforced... 52

CHAPTER IX. CHANGE OF LOCATION.

Miss Lucretia — Her kindness — How it was rnanifested — "lke" — A battle with him — Miss Lucretia's balsam — Bread — How it was obtained — Gleam s of sunlight amidst the general darkness — Suffering from cold — How we took our meal mush — Preparations for going to Baltimore — Delight at the change — Cousin Tom's opinion of Baltimore — Arrival there — Kind reception — Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Auld — Their son Tommy — My relations to them — My duties — A turning-point in my life... 55

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 13

CHAPTER X. LEARNING TO READ.

City annoyances — Plantation regrets — My mistress — Her history — Her kindness — My master — His sourness — My comforts — Increased sensitiveness — My occupation — Learning to read — Baneful effects of slaveholding on my dear, good mistress — Mr. Hugh forbids Mrs. Sophia to teach me further — Clouds gather on my bright prospects — Master Auld's exposition of the Philosophy of Slavery — His iron sentences — A new and special revelation — "knowledge unfits a child to be a slave" — Mr. Hugh's determination to keep him in ignorance — He owes as much to Mr. Hugh's opposition as to Mrs. Sophia's assistance...................60

CHAPTER XI. GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE.

My mistress — Her slaveholding duties — Their effects on her originally noble nature — The conflict in her mind — She opposes my learning to read — Too late — She had given me the "inch," I was resolved to take the "ell" — How I pursued my study to read — My tutors — What progress I made — Slavery — What I heard said about it — Thirteen years old — "Columbian Orator" — Dialogue — Speeches — O'Connor — Pitt — Lords Chatham and Fox — Knowledge increasing — Liberty — Singing — Sadness — Unhappiness of Mrs. Sophia — My hatred of slavery — One Upas tree overshadows us all................................................................ 63

CHAPTER XII. RELIGIOUS NATURE AWAKENED.

Abolitionists spoken of — Eagerness to know the meaning of the word — Consults the dictionary — Incendiary information — The enigma solved — "Nat" Turner insurrection — Cholera — Religion — Methodist Minister — Religious impressions — Father Lawson — His character and occupation — His influence over me — Our mutual attachment — New hopes and aspirations — Heavenly light — Two Irishmen on wharf — Conversation with them — Learning to write — My aims........... 69

CHAPTER XIII. THE VICISSITUDES OF SLAVE LIFE.

Death of old Master's son Richard, speedily followed by that of old Master — Valuation and division of all the property, including the slaves — Sent for to come to Hillsborough to be valued and divided — Sad prospects and grief — Parting — Slaves have no voice in deciding their own destinies — General dread of falling into Master Andrew's hands — His drunkenness — Good fortune in falling to Miss Lucretia — She allows my return to Baltimore — Joy at Master Hugh's — Death of Miss

14 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Lucretia — Master Thomas Auld's second marriage — The new wife unlike the old — Again removed from Master Hugh's — Reasons for regret — Plan of escape... 74

CHAPTER XIV. EXPERIENCE IN ST. MICHAELS.

St. Michaels and its inhabitants — Capt. Auld — His new wife — Suffcrings from hunger — Forced to steal — Argument in vindication thereof — Southern camp-meeting — What Capt. Auld did there — Hopes — Suspicions — The result — Faith and works at variance — Position in the church — Poor Cousin Henny — Methodist preachers — Their disregard of the slaves — One exception — Sabbath-school — How and by whom broken up — Sad change in my prospects — Covey. the negrobreaker .................... 80

CHAPTER XV. COVEY, THE NEGRO BREAKER.

Journey to Covey's — Meditations by the way — Covey 's house — Family —Awkwardness as a field hand — A cruel beating — Why given — Description of Covey — First attempt at driving oxen — Hair-breadth escape — Ox and man alike property — Hard labor more effective than the whip for breaking down the spirit — Cunning and trickery of Covey — Family worship — Shocking and indecent contempt for chastity — Great mental agitation — Anguish beyond description.. ........ 89

CHAPTER XVI. ANOTHER PRESSURE OF THE TYRANT'S VICE

Experience at Covey's summed up — First six months severer than the remaining six — Preliminaries to the change — Reasons for narrating the circumstances — Scene in the treading-yard — Author taken ill — Escapes to St. Michael's — The pursuit — Suffering in the woods — Talk with Master Thomas — His beating — Driven back to Covey's — The slaves never sick — Natural to expect them to feign sickness — Laziness of slaveholders....................... 99

CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST FLOGGING.

A sleepless night — Return to Covey's — Punished by him — The chase defeated — Ven geance postponed — Musings in the woods — The alternative — Deplorable spectacle — Night in the woods — Expected attack — Accosted by Sandy — A friend, not a master — Sandy's hospitality — The ash-cake supper — Interview with Sandy — His advice — Sandy a conjuror as well as a Christian — The magic root — Strange meeting with Covey — His manner — Covey's Sunday face — Author's defensive resolve — The fight — The victory, and its results ................ 104

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CHAPTER XVIII. NEW RELATIONS AND DUTIES.

Change of masters — Benefits derived by change — Fame of the fight with Covey — Reckless unconcern — Author's abhorrence of slavery — Ability to read a cause of prejudice — The holidays — How spent — Sharp hit at slavery — Effects of holidays — Difference between Covey and Freeland — An irreligious master preferred to a religious one — Hard life at Covey's useful to the author — Improved condition does not bring contentment — Congenial society at Freeland's — Author's Sabbathschool — Secresy necessary — Affectionate relations of tutor and pupils — Confidence and friendship among slaves — Slavery the inviter of vengeance... 113

CHAPTER XIX. THE RUNAWAY PLOT.

New Year's thoughts and meditations — Again hired by Freeland — Kindness no compensation for slavery — Incipient steps toward escape — Considerations leading thereto — Hostility to slavery — Solemn vow taken — Plan divulged to slaves — "Columbian Orator" again — Scheme gains favor — Danger of discovery — Skill of slaveholders — Suspicion and coercion — Hymns with double meaning — Consultation — Pass-word — Hope and fear — Ignorance of Geography — Imaginary difficulties — Patrick Henry — Sandy a dreamer — Route to the north mapped out — Objections — Frauds — Passes — Anxieties — Fear of failure — Strange presentiment — Coincidence — Betrayal — Arrests — Resistance — Mrs. Freeland — Prison — Brutal jests — Passes eaten — Denial — Sandy — Dragged behind horses — Slave traders — Alone in prison — Sent to Baltimore................ 121

CHAPTER XX. APPRENTICESHIP LIFE.

Nothing lost in my attempt to run away — Comrades at home — Reasons for sending me away — Return to Baltimore — Tommy changed — Caulking in Gardner's ship yard — Desperate fight — Its causes — Conflict between white and black labor — Outrage testimony — Master Hugh — Slavery in Baltimore — My condition improves — New associations — Slaveholder's right to the slave's wages — How to make a discontented slave... 138

CHAPTER XXI. ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY.

Closing incidents in my life as a slave — Discontent — Suspicions — Master's generosity — Difficulties in the way of escape — Plan to obtain money — Allowed to hire my time — A gleam of hope — Attend camp-meeting — Anger of Master Hugh — The result — Plans of escape — Day for departure fixed — Harassing doubts and fears — Painful thoughts of separation from friends................. 147