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。