Butitwasbynomeansaneasyemployment;forinnothingwasColonelLloydmoreparticularthaninthemanagementofhishorses。Theslightestinat-
　　tentiontothesewasunpardonable，andwasvisiteduponthose，underwhosecaretheywereplaced，withtheseverestpunishment;noexcusecouldshieldthem，ifthecolonelonlysuspectedanywantofattentiontohishorses——asuppositionwhichhefre-
　　quentlyindulged，andonewhich，ofcourse，madetheofficeofoldandyoungBarneyaverytryingone。
　　Theyneverknewwhentheyweresafefrompunish-
　　ment。Theywerefrequentlywhippedwhenleastdeserving，andescapedwhippingwhenmostdeserv-
　　ingit。Everythingdependeduponthelooksofthehorses，andthestateofColonelLloyd’sownmindwhenhishorseswerebroughttohimforuse。Ifahorsedidnotmovefastenough，orholdhisheadhighenough，itwasowingtosomefaultofhiskeep-
　　ers。Itwaspainfultostandnearthestable-door，andhearthevariouscomplaintsagainstthekeeperswhenahorsewastakenoutforuse。"Thishorsehasnothadproperattention。Hehasnotbeensuffi-
　　cientlyrubbedandcurried，orhehasnotbeenprop-
　　erlyfed;hisfoodwastoowetortoodry;hegotittoosoonortoolate;hewastoohotortoocold;hehadtoomuchhay，andnotenoughofgrain;orhehadtoomuchgrain，andnotenoughofhay;insteadofoldBarney’sattendingtothehorse，hehadveryimproperlyleftittohisson。"Toallthesecom-
　　plaints，nomatterhowunjust，theslavemustan-
　　swerneveraword。ColonelLloydcouldnotbrookanycontradictionfromaslave。Whenhespoke，aslavemuststand，listen，andtremble;andsuchwasliterallythecase。IhaveseenColonelLloydmakeoldBarney，amanbetweenfiftyandsixtyyearsofage，uncoverhisbaldhead，kneeldownuponthecold，dampground，andreceiveuponhisnakedandtoil-wornshouldersmorethanthirtylashesatthetime。ColonelLloydhadthreesons——Edward，Mur-
　　ray，andDaniel，——andthreesons-in-law，Mr。Winder，Mr。Nicholson，andMr。Lowndes。AlloftheselivedattheGreatHouseFarm，andenjoyedtheluxuryofwhippingtheservantswhentheypleased，fromoldBarneydowntoWilliamWilkes，thecoach-driver。
　　IhaveseenWindermakeoneofthehouse-servantsstandofffromhimasuitabledistancetobetouchedwiththeendofhiswhip，andateverystrokeraisegreatridgesuponhisback。
　　TodescribethewealthofColonelLloydwouldbealmostequaltodescribingtherichesofJob。Hekeptfromtentofifteenhouse-servants。Hewassaidtoownathousandslaves，andIthinkthisestimatequitewithinthetruth。ColonelLloydownedsomanythathedidnotknowthemwhenhesawthem;
　　nordidalltheslavesoftheout-farmsknowhim。Itisreportedofhim，that，whileridingalongtheroadoneday，hemetacoloredman，andaddressedhimintheusualmannerofspeakingtocoloredpeopleonthepublichighwaysofthesouth："Well，boy，whomdoyoubelongto？""ToColonelLloyd，"re-
　　pliedtheslave。"Well，doesthecoloneltreatyouwell？""No，sir，"wasthereadyreply。"What，doesheworkyoutoohard？""Yes，sir。""Well，don’thegiveyouenoughtoeat？""Yes，sir，hegivesmeenough，suchasitis。"
　　Thecolonel，afterascertainingwheretheslavebelonged，rodeon;themanalsowentonabouthisbusiness，notdreamingthathehadbeenconversingwithhismaster。Hethought，said，andheardnoth-
　　ingmoreofthematter，untiltwoorthreeweeksafterwards。Thepoormanwastheninformedbyhisoverseerthat，forhavingfoundfaultwithhismaster，hewasnowtobesoldtoaGeorgiatrader。Hewasimmediatelychainedandhandcuffed;andthus，withoutamoment’swarning，hewassnatchedaway，andforeversundered，fromhisfamilyandfriends，byahandmoreunrelentingthandeath。Thisisthepenaltyoftellingthetruth，oftellingthesimpletruth，inanswertoaseriesofplainquestions。
　　Itispartlyinconsequenceofsuchfacts，thatslaves，wheninquiredofastotheirconditionandthecharacteroftheirmasters，almostuniversallysaytheyarecontented，andthattheirmastersarekind。
　　Theslaveholdershavebeenknowntosendinspiesamongtheirslaves，toascertaintheirviewsandfeel-
　　ingsinregardtotheircondition。Thefrequencyofthishashadtheeffecttoestablishamongtheslavesthemaxim，thatastilltonguemakesawisehead。
　　Theysuppressthetruthratherthantakethecon-
　　sequencesoftellingit，andinsodoingprovethem-
　　selvesapartofthehumanfamily。Iftheyhaveanythingtosayoftheirmasters，itisgenerallyintheirmasters’favor，especiallywhenspeakingtoanun-
　　triedman。Ihavebeenfrequentlyasked，whenaslave，ifIhadakindmaster，anddonotrememberevertohavegivenanegativeanswer;nordidI，inpursuingthiscourse，considermyselfasutteringwhatwasabsolutelyfalse;forIalwaysmeasuredthekind-
　　nessofmymasterbythestandardofkindnesssetupamongslaveholdersaroundus。Moreover，slavesarelikeotherpeople，andimbibeprejudicesquitecommontoothers。Theythinktheirownbetterthanthatofothers。Many，undertheinfluenceofthisprejudice，thinktheirownmastersarebetterthanthemastersofotherslaves;andthis，too，insomecases，whentheveryreverseistrue。Indeed，itisnotuncommonforslaveseventofalloutandquar-
　　relamongthemselvesabouttherelativegoodnessoftheirmasters，eachcontendingforthesuperiorgood-
　　nessofhisownoverthatoftheothers。Attheverysametime，theymutuallyexecratetheirmasterswhenviewedseparately。Itwassoonourplantation。
　　WhenColonelLloyd’sslavesmettheslavesofJacobJepson，theyseldompartedwithoutaquarrelabouttheirmasters;ColonelLloyd’sslavescontendingthathewastherichest，andMr。Jepson’sslavesthathewasthesmartest，andmostofaman。ColonelLloyd’sslaveswouldboasthisabilitytobuyandsellJacobJepson。Mr。Jepson’sslaveswouldboasthisabilitytowhipColonelLloyd。Thesequarrelswouldalmostalwaysendinafightbetweentheparties，andthosethatwhippedweresupposedtohavegainedthepointatissue。Theyseemedtothinkthatthegreat-
　　nessoftheirmasterswastransferabletothemselves。
　　Itwasconsideredasbeingbadenoughtobeaslave;buttobeapoorman’sslavewasdeemedadisgraceindeed！
　　CHAPTERIV
　　Mr。Hopkinsremainedbutashorttimeintheofficeofoverseer。Whyhiscareerwassoshort，I
　　donotknow，butsupposehelackedthenecessaryseveritytosuitColonelLloyd。Mr。Hopkinswassuc-
　　ceededbyMr。AustinGore，amanpossessing，inaneminentdegree，allthosetraitsofcharacterin-
　　dispensabletowhatiscalledafirst-rateoverseer。Mr。
　　GorehadservedColonelLloyd，inthecapacityofoverseer，upononeoftheout-farms，andhadshownhimselfworthyofthehighstationofoverseeruponthehomeorGreatHouseFarm。
　　Mr。Gorewasproud，ambitious，andpersevering。
　　Hewasartful，cruel，andobdurate。Hewasjustthemanforsuchaplace，anditwasjusttheplaceforsuchaman。Itaffordedscopeforthefullexerciseofallhispowers，andheseemedtobeperfectlyathomeinit。Hewasoneofthosewhocouldtorturetheslightestlook，word，orgesture，onthepartoftheslave，intoimpudence，andwouldtreatitac-
　　cordingly。Theremustbenoansweringbacktohim;
　　noexplanationwasallowedaslave，showinghimselftohavebeenwrongfullyaccused。Mr。Goreactedfullyuptothemaximlaiddownbyslaveholders，——
　　"Itisbetterthatadozenslavesshouldsufferunderthelash，thanthattheoverseershouldbeconvicted，inthepresenceoftheslaves，ofhavingbeenatfault。"
　　Nomatterhowinnocentaslavemightbe——itavailedhimnothing，whenaccusedbyMr。Goreofanymisdemeanor。Tobeaccusedwastobeconvicted，andtobeconvictedwastobepunished;theonealwaysfollowingtheotherwithimmutablecertainty。
　　Toescapepunishmentwastoescapeaccusation;andfewslaveshadthefortunetodoeither，undertheoverseershipofMr。Gore。Hewasjustproudenoughtodemandthemostdebasinghomageoftheslave，andquiteservileenoughtocrouch，himself，atthefeetofthemaster。Hewasambitiousenoughtobecontentedwithnothingshortofthehighestrankofoverseers，andperseveringenoughtoreachtheheightofhisambition。Hewascruelenoughtoin-
　　flicttheseverestpunishment，artfulenoughtode-
　　scendtothelowesttrickery，andobdurateenoughtobeinsensibletothevoiceofareprovingconscience。
　　Hewas，ofalltheoverseers，themostdreadedbytheslaves。Hispresencewaspainful;hiseyeflashedconfusion;andseldomwashissharp，shrillvoiceheard，withoutproducinghorrorandtremblingintheirranks。
　　Mr。Gorewasagraveman，and，thoughayoungman，heindulgedinnojokes，saidnofunnywords，seldomsmiled。Hiswordswereinperfectkeepingwithhislooks，andhislookswereinperfectkeepingwithhiswords。Overseerswillsometimesindulgeinawittyword，evenwiththeslaves;notsowithMr。
　　Gore。Hespokebuttocommand，andcommandedbuttobeobeyed;hedealtsparinglywithhiswords，andbountifullywithhiswhip，neverusingtheformerwherethelatterwouldansweraswell。Whenhewhipped，heseemedtodosofromasenseofduty，andfearednoconsequences。Hedidnothingreluctantly，nomatterhowdisagreeable;alwaysathispost，neverinconsistent。Heneverpromisedbuttofulfil。Hewas，inaword，amanofthemostin-
　　flexiblefirmnessandstone-likecoolness。
　　Hissavagebarbaritywasequalledonlybythecon-
　　summatecoolnesswithwhichhecommittedthegrossestandmostsavagedeedsupontheslavesunderhischarge。Mr。GoreonceundertooktowhiponeofColonelLloyd’sslaves，bythenameofDemby。HehadgivenDembybutfewstripes，when，togetridofthescourging，heranandplungedhimselfintoacreek，andstoodthereatthedepthofhisshoulders，refusingtocomeout。Mr。Goretoldhimthathewouldgivehimthreecalls，andthat，ifhedidnotcomeoutatthethirdcall，hewouldshoothim。
　　Thefirstcallwasgiven。Dembymadenoresponse，butstoodhisground。Thesecondandthirdcallsweregivenwiththesameresult。Mr。Gorethen，withoutconsultationordeliberationwithanyone，notevengivingDembyanadditionalcall，raisedhismuskettohisface，takingdeadlyaimathisstandingvictim，andinaninstantpoorDembywasnomore。Hismangledbodysankoutofsight，andbloodandbrainsmarkedthewaterwherehehadstood。
　　Athrillofhorrorflashedthrougheverysoulupontheplantation，exceptingMr。Gore。Healoneseemedcoolandcollected。HewasaskedbyColonelLloydandmyoldmaster，whyheresortedtothisextraordinaryexpedient。Hisreplywas，（aswellasIcanremember，）thatDembyhadbecomeunman-
　　ageable。Hewassettingadangerousexampletotheotherslaves，——onewhich，ifsufferedtopasswithoutsomesuchdemonstrationonhispart，wouldfinallyleadtothetotalsubversionofallruleandorderupontheplantation。Hearguedthatifoneslavere-
　　fusedtobecorrected，andescapedwithhislife，theotherslaveswouldsooncopytheexample;there-
　　sultofwhichwouldbe，thefreedomoftheslaves，andtheenslavementofthewhites。Mr。Gore’sde-
　　fencewassatisfactory。Hewascontinuedinhissta-
　　tionasoverseeruponthehomeplantation。Hisfameasanoverseerwentabroad。Hishorridcrimewasnotevensubmittedtojudicialinvestigation。Itwascommittedinthepresenceofslaves，andtheyofcoursecouldneitherinstituteasuit，nortestifyagainsthim;andthustheguiltyperpetratorofoneofthebloodiestandmostfoulmurdersgoesunwhippedofjustice，anduncensuredbythecommunityinwhichhelives。Mr。GorelivedinSt。Michael’s，Tal-
　　botcounty，Maryland，whenIleftthere;andifheisstillalive，heveryprobablylivestherenow;andifso，heisnow，ashewasthen，ashighlyesteemedandasmuchrespectedasthoughhisguiltysoulhadnotbeenstainedwithhisbrother’sblood。
　　IspeakadvisedlywhenIsaythis，——thatkillingaslave，oranycoloredperson，inTalbotcounty，Maryland，isnottreatedasacrime，eitherbythecourtsorthecommunity。Mr。ThomasLanman，ofSt。Michael’s，killedtwoslaves，oneofwhomhekilledwithahatchet，byknockinghisbrainsout。Heusedtoboastofthecommissionoftheawfulandbloodydeed。Ihaveheardhimdosolaughingly，saying，amongotherthings，thathewastheonlybenefactorofhiscountryinthecompany，andthatwhenotherswoulddoasmuchashehaddone，weshouldberelievedof"thed————dniggers。"
　　ThewifeofMr。GilesHicks，livingbutashortdistancefromwhereIusedtolive，murderedmywife’scousin，ayounggirlbetweenfifteenandsix-
　　teenyearsofage，manglingherpersoninthemosthorriblemanner，breakinghernoseandbreastbonewithastick，sothatthepoorgirlexpiredinafewhoursafterward。Shewasimmediatelyburied，buthadnotbeeninheruntimelygravebutafewhoursbeforeshewastakenupandexaminedbythecor-
　　oner，whodecidedthatshehadcometoherdeathbyseverebeating。Theoffenceforwhichthisgirlwasthusmurderedwasthis：——ShehadbeensetthatnighttomindMrs。Hicks’sbaby，andduringthenightshefellasleep，andthebabycried。She，havinglostherrestforseveralnightsprevious，didnothearthecrying。TheywerebothintheroomwithMrs。
　　Hicks。Mrs。Hicks，findingthegirlslowtomove，jumpedfromherbed，seizedanoakstickofwoodbythefireplace，andwithitbrokethegirl’snoseandbreastbone，andthusendedherlife。Iwillnotsaythatthismosthorridmurderproducednosen-
　　sationinthecommunity。Itdidproducesensation，butnotenoughtobringthemurderesstopunish-
　　ment。Therewasawarrantissuedforherarrest，butitwasneverserved。Thussheescapednotonlypunishment，buteventhepainofbeingarraignedbeforeacourtforherhorridcrime。
　　WhilstIamdetailingbloodydeedswhichtookplaceduringmystayonColonelLloyd’splantation，Iwillbrieflynarrateanother，whichoccurredaboutthesametimeasthemurderofDembybyMr。
　　Gore。
　　ColonelLloyd’sslaveswereinthehabitofspend-
　　ingapartoftheirnightsandSundaysinfishingforoysters，andinthiswaymadeupthedeficiencyoftheirscantyallowance。AnoldmanbelongingtoColonelLloyd，whilethusengaged，happenedtogetbeyondthelimitsofColonelLloyd’s，andonthepremisesofMr。BealBondly。Atthistrespass，Mr。
　　Bondlytookoffence，andwithhismusketcamedowntotheshore，andblewitsdeadlycontentsintothepooroldman。
　　Mr。BondlycameovertoseeColonelLloydthenextday，whethertopayhimforhisproperty，ortojustifyhimselfinwhathehaddone，Iknownot。
　　Atanyrate，thiswholefiendishtransactionwassoonhushedup。Therewasverylittlesaidaboutitatall，andnothingdone。Itwasacommonsaying，evenamonglittlewhiteboys，thatitwasworthahalf-
　　centtokilla"nigger，"andahalf-centtoburyone。
　　CHAPTERV
　　AstomyowntreatmentwhileIlivedonColonelLloyd’splantation，itwasverysimilartothatoftheotherslavechildren。Iwasnotoldenoughtoworkinthefield，andtherebeinglittleelsethanfieldworktodo，Ihadagreatdealofleisuretime。ThemostIhadtodowastodriveupthecowsatevening，keepthefowlsoutofthegarden，keepthefrontyardclean，andrunoferrandsformyoldmaster’sdaughter，Mrs。LucretiaAuld。Themostofmylei-
　　suretimeIspentinhelpingMasterDanielLloydinfindinghisbirds，afterhehadshotthem。MyconnectionwithMasterDanielwasofsomeadvan-
　　tagetome。Hebecamequiteattachedtome，andwasasortofprotectorofme。Hewouldnotallowtheolderboystoimposeuponme，andwoulddividehiscakeswithme。
　　Iwasseldomwhippedbymyoldmaster，andsuf-
　　feredlittlefromanythingelsethanhungerandcold。Isufferedmuchfromhunger，butmuchmorefromcold。Inhottestsummerandcoldestwinter，I
　　waskeptalmostnaked——noshoes，nostockings，nojacket，notrousers，nothingonbutacoarsetowlinenshirt，reachingonlytomyknees。Ihadnobed。I
　　musthaveperishedwithcold，butthat，thecoldestnights，Iusedtostealabagwhichwasusedforcarry-
　　ingcorntothemill。Iwouldcrawlintothisbag，andtheresleeponthecold，damp，clayfloor，withmyheadinandfeetout。Myfeethavebeensocrackedwiththefrost，thatthepenwithwhichI
　　amwritingmightbelaidinthegashes。
　　Wewerenotregularlyallowanced。Ourfoodwascoarsecornmealboiled。ThiswascalledMUSH。Itwasputintoalargewoodentrayortrough，andsetdownupontheground。Thechildrenwerethencalled，likesomanypigs，andlikesomanypigstheywouldcomeanddevourthemush;somewithoyster-
　　shells，otherswithpiecesofshingle，somewithnakedhands，andnonewithspoons。Hethatatefastestgotmost;hethatwasstrongestsecuredthebestplace;andfewleftthetroughsatisfied。
　　IwasprobablybetweensevenandeightyearsoldwhenIleftColonelLloyd’splantation。Ileftitwithjoy。IshallneverforgettheecstasywithwhichI
　　receivedtheintelligencethatmyoldmaster（An-
　　thony）haddeterminedtoletmegotoBaltimore，tolivewithMr。HughAuld，brothertomyoldmaster’sson-in-law，CaptainThomasAuld。Ire-
　　ceivedthisinformationaboutthreedaysbeforemydeparture。TheywerethreeofthehappiestdaysIeverenjoyed。Ispentthemostpartofallthesethreedaysinthecreek，washingofftheplantationscurf，andpreparingmyselfformydeparture。
　　Theprideofappearancewhichthiswouldindicatewasnotmyown。Ispentthetimeinwashing，notsomuchbecauseIwishedto，butbecauseMrs。
　　LucretiahadtoldmeImustgetallthedeadskinoffmyfeetandkneesbeforeIcouldgotoBalti-
　　more;forthepeopleinBaltimorewereverycleanly，andwouldlaughatmeifIlookeddirty。Besides，shewasgoingtogivemeapairoftrousers，whichI
　　shouldnotputonunlessIgotallthedirtoffme。
　　Thethoughtofowningapairoftrouserswasgreatindeed！Itwasalmostasufficientmotive，notonlytomakemetakeoffwhatwouldbecalledbypig-
　　droversthemange，buttheskinitself。Iwentatitingoodearnest，workingforthefirsttimewiththehopeofreward。
　　Thetiesthatordinarilybindchildrentotheirhomeswereallsuspendedinmycase。Ifoundnoseveretrialinmydeparture。Myhomewascharm-
　　less;itwasnothometome;onpartingfromit，I
　　couldnotfeelthatIwasleavinganythingwhichI
　　couldhaveenjoyedbystaying。Mymotherwasdead，mygrandmotherlivedfaroff，sothatIseldomsawher。Ihadtwosistersandonebrother，thatlivedinthesamehousewithme;buttheearlyseparationofusfromourmotherhadwellnighblottedthefactofourrelationshipfromourmemories。Ilookedforhomeelsewhere，andwasconfidentoffindingnonewhichIshouldrelishlessthantheonewhichIwasleaving。If，however，Ifoundinmynewhomehard-
　　ship，hunger，whipping，andnakedness，IhadtheconsolationthatIshouldnothaveescapedanyoneofthembystaying。Havingalreadyhadmorethanatasteoftheminthehouseofmyoldmaster，andhavingenduredthemthere，Iverynaturallyinferredmyabilitytoendurethemelsewhere，andespeciallyatBaltimore;forIhadsomethingofthefeelingaboutBaltimorethatisexpressedintheproverb，that"beinghangedinEnglandispreferabletodyinganaturaldeathinIreland。"IhadthestrongestdesiretoseeBaltimore。CousinTom，thoughnotfluentinspeech，hadinspiredmewiththatdesirebyhiseloquentdescriptionoftheplace。IcouldneverpointoutanythingattheGreatHouse，nomatterhowbeautifulorpowerful，butthathehadseensomethingatBaltimorefarexceeding，bothinbeautyandstrength，theobjectwhichIpointedouttohim。EventheGreatHouseitself，withallitspictures，wasfarinferiortomanybuildingsinBal-
　　timore。Sostrongwasmydesire，thatIthoughtagratificationofitwouldfullycompensateforwhat-
　　everlossofcomfortsIshouldsustainbytheex-
　　change。Ileftwithoutaregret，andwiththehighesthopesoffuturehappiness。
　　WesailedoutofMilesRiverforBaltimoreonaSaturdaymorning。Irememberonlythedayoftheweek，foratthattimeIhadnoknowledgeofthedaysofthemonth，northemonthsoftheyear。Onsettingsail，Iwalkedaft，andgavetoColonelLloyd’splantationwhatIhopedwouldbethelastlook。I
　　thenplacedmyselfinthebowsofthesloop，andtherespenttheremainderofthedayinlookingahead，interestingmyselfinwhatwasinthedistanceratherthaninthingsnearbyorbehind。
　　Intheafternoonofthatday，wereachedAnnap-
　　olis，thecapitaloftheState。Westoppedbutafewmoments，sothatIhadnotimetogoonshore。
　　ItwasthefirstlargetownthatIhadeverseen，andthoughitwouldlooksmallcomparedwithsomeofourNewEnglandfactoryvillages，Ithoughtitawonderfulplaceforitssize——moreimposingeventhantheGreatHouseFarm！
　　WearrivedatBaltimoreearlyonSundaymorn-
　　ing，landingatSmith’sWharf，notfarfromBow-
　　ley’sWharf。Wehadonboardthesloopalargeflockofsheep;andafteraidingindrivingthemtotheslaughterhouseofMr。CurtisonLoudenSlater’sHill，IwasconductedbyRich，oneofthehandsbelongingonboardofthesloop，tomynewhomeinAllicianaStreet，nearMr。Gardner’sship-yard，onFellsPoint。
　　Mr。andMrs。Auldwerebothathome，andmetmeatthedoorwiththeirlittlesonThomas，totakecareofwhomIhadbeengiven。AndhereIsawwhatIhadneverseenbefore;itwasawhitefacebeamingwiththemostkindlyemotions;itwasthefaceofmynewmistress，SophiaAuld。IwishIcouldde-
　　scribetherapturethatflashedthroughmysoulasI
　　beheldit。Itwasanewandstrangesighttome，brighteningupmypathwaywiththelightofhappi-
　　ness。LittleThomaswastold，therewashisFreddy，——andIwastoldtotakecareoflittleThomas;andthusIentereduponthedutiesofmynewhomewiththemostcheeringprospectahead。
　　IlookuponmydeparturefromColonelLloyd’splantationasoneofthemostinterestingeventsofmylife。Itispossible，andevenquiteprobable，thatbutforthemerecircumstanceofbeingremovedfromthatplantationtoBaltimore，Ishouldhaveto-day，insteadofbeinghereseatedbymyowntable，intheenjoymentoffreedomandthehappinessofhome，writingthisNarrative，beenconfinedinthegallingchainsofslavery。GoingtoliveatBaltimorelaidthefoundation，andopenedthegateway，toallmysubsequentprosperity。Ihaveeverregardeditasthefirstplainmanifestationofthatkindprovi-
　　dencewhichhaseversinceattendedme，andmarkedmylifewithsomanyfavors。Iregardedtheselectionofmyselfasbeingsomewhatremarkable。TherewereanumberofslavechildrenthatmighthavebeensentfromtheplantationtoBaltimore。Therewerethoseyounger，thoseolder，andthoseofthesameage。Iwaschosenfromamongthemall，andwasthefirst，last，andonlychoice。
　　Imaybedeemedsuperstitious，andevenegotisti-
　　cal，inregardingthiseventasaspecialinterpositionofdivineProvidenceinmyfavor。ButIshouldbefalsetotheearliestsentimentsofmysoul，ifIsup-
　　pressedtheopinion。Iprefertobetruetomyself，evenatthehazardofincurringtheridiculeofothers，ratherthantobefalse，andincurmyownabhor-
　　rence。Frommyearliestrecollection，Idatetheen-
　　tertainmentofadeepconvictionthatslaverywouldnotalwaysbeabletoholdmewithinitsfoulem-
　　brace;andinthedarkesthoursofmycareerinslav-
　　ery，thislivingwordoffaithandspiritofhopede-
　　partednotfromme，butremainedlikeministeringangelstocheermethroughthegloom。ThisgoodspiritwasfromGod，andtohimIofferthanksgivingandpraise。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　MynewmistressprovedtobeallsheappearedwhenIfirstmetheratthedoor，——awomanofthekindestheartandfinestfeelings。Shehadneverhadaslaveunderhercontrolpreviouslytomyself，andpriortohermarriageshehadbeendependentuponherownindustryforaliving。Shewasbytradeaweaver;andbyconstantapplicationtoherbusiness，shehadbeeninagooddegreepreservedfromtheblightinganddehumanizingeffectsofslavery。Iwasutterlyastonishedathergoodness。Iscarcelyknewhowtobehavetowardsher。ShewasentirelyunlikeanyotherwhitewomanIhadeverseen。IcouldnotapproachherasIwasaccustomedtoapproachotherwhiteladies。Myearlyinstructionwasalloutofplace。Thecrouchingservility，usuallysoacceptableaqualityinaslave，didnotanswerwhenmanifestedtowardher。Herfavorwasnotgainedbyit;sheseemedtobedisturbedbyit。Shedidnotdeemitimpudentorunmannerlyforaslavetolookherintheface。Themeanestslavewasputfullyateaseinherpresence，andnoneleftwithoutfeelingbet-
　　terforhavingseenher。Herfacewasmadeofheav-
　　enlysmiles，andhervoiceoftranquilmusic。
　　But，alas！thiskindhearthadbutashorttimetoremainsuch。Thefatalpoisonofirresponsiblepowerwasalreadyinherhands，andsooncommenceditsinfernalwork。Thatcheerfuleye，undertheinflu-
　　enceofslavery，soonbecameredwithrage;thatvoice，madeallofsweetaccord，changedtooneofharshandhorriddiscord;andthatangelicfacegaveplacetothatofademon。
　　VerysoonafterIwenttolivewithMr。andMrs。
　　Auld，sheverykindlycommencedtoteachmetheA，B，C。AfterIhadlearnedthis，sheassistedmeinlearningtospellwordsofthreeorfourletters。Justatthispointofmyprogress，Mr。Auldfoundoutwhatwasgoingon，andatonceforbadeMrs。Auldtoinstructmefurther，tellingher，amongotherthings，thatitwasunlawful，aswellasunsafe，toteachaslavetoread。Tousehisownwords，further，hesaid，"Ifyougiveaniggeraninch，hewilltakeanell。Aniggershouldknownothingbuttoobeyhismaster——todoasheistoldtodo。Learningwould~spoil~thebestniggerintheworld。Now，"saidhe，"ifyouteachthatnigger（speakingofmyself）howtoread，therewouldbenokeepinghim。Itwouldfor-
　　everunfithimtobeaslave。Hewouldatoncebe-
　　comeunmanageable，andofnovaluetohismaster。
　　Astohimself，itcoulddohimnogood，butagreatdealofharm。Itwouldmakehimdiscontentedandunhappy。"Thesewordssankdeepintomyheart，stirredupsentimentswithinthatlayslumbering，andcalledintoexistenceanentirelynewtrainofthought。Itwasanewandspecialrevelation，ex-
　　plainingdarkandmysteriousthings，withwhichmyyouthfulunderstandinghadstruggled，butstruggledinvain。Inowunderstoodwhathadbeentomeamostperplexingdifficulty——towit，thewhiteman’spowertoenslavetheblackman。Itwasagrandachievement，andIprizedithighly。Fromthatmo-
　　ment，Iunderstoodthepathwayfromslaverytofree-
　　dom。ItwasjustwhatIwanted，andIgotitatatimewhenItheleastexpectedit。WhilstIwassad-
　　denedbythethoughtoflosingtheaidofmykindmistress，Iwasgladdenedbytheinvaluableinstruc-
　　tionwhich，bythemerestaccident，Ihadgainedfrommymaster。Thoughconsciousofthedifficultyoflearningwithoutateacher，Isetoutwithhighhope，andafixedpurpose，atwhatevercostoftrou-
　　ble，tolearnhowtoread。Theverydecidedmannerwithwhichhespoke，andstrovetoimpresshiswifewiththeevilconsequencesofgivingmeinstruction，servedtoconvincemethathewasdeeplysensibleofthetruthshewasuttering。ItgavemethebestassurancethatImightrelywiththeutmostconfi-
　　denceontheresultswhich，hesaid，wouldflowfromteachingmetoread。Whathemostdreaded，thatImostdesired。Whathemostloved，thatImosthated。Thatwhichtohimwasagreatevil，tobecarefullyshunned，wastomeagreatgood，tobediligentlysought;andtheargumentwhichhesowarmlyurged，againstmylearningtoread，onlyservedtoinspiremewithadesireanddetermina-
　　tiontolearn。Inlearningtoread，Iowealmostasmuchtothebitteroppositionofmymaster，astothekindlyaidofmymistress。Iacknowledgethebenefitofboth。
　　IhadresidedbutashorttimeinBaltimorebeforeIobservedamarkeddifference，inthetreatmentofslaves，fromthatwhichIhadwitnessedinthecoun-
　　try。Acityslaveisalmostafreeman，comparedwithaslaveontheplantation。Heismuchbetterfedandclothed，andenjoysprivilegesaltogetherunknowntotheslaveontheplantation。Thereisavestigeofdecency，asenseofshame，thatdoesmuchtocurbandcheckthoseoutbreaksofatrociouscrueltysocommonlyenactedupontheplantation。Heisades-
　　perateslaveholder，whowillshockthehumanityofhisnon-slaveholdingneighborswiththecriesofhislaceratedslave。Fewarewillingtoincurtheodiumattachingtothereputationofbeingacruelmaster;
　　andaboveallthings，theywouldnotbeknownasnotgivingaslaveenoughtoeat。Everycityslave-
　　holderisanxioustohaveitknownofhim，thathefeedshisslaveswell;anditisduetothemtosay，thatmostofthemdogivetheirslavesenoughtoeat。
　　Thereare，however，somepainfulexceptionstothisrule。Directlyoppositetous，onPhilpotStreet，livedMr。ThomasHamilton。Heownedtwoslaves。TheirnameswereHenriettaandMary。Henriettawasabouttwenty-twoyearsofage，Marywasaboutfour-
　　teen;andofallthemangledandemaciatedcreaturesIeverlookedupon，thesetwowerethemostso。Hisheartmustbeharderthanstone，thatcouldlookupontheseunmoved。Thehead，neck，andshouldersofMarywereliterallycuttopieces。Ihavefre-
　　quentlyfeltherhead，andfounditnearlycoveredwithfesteringsores，causedbythelashofhercruelmistress。Idonotknowthathermastereverwhippedher，butIhavebeenaneye-witnesstothecrueltyofMrs。Hamilton。IusedtobeinMr。Hamilton’shousenearlyeveryday。Mrs。Hamiltonusedtositinalargechairinthemiddleoftheroom，withaheavycow-
　　skinalwaysbyherside，andscarceanhourpassedduringthedaybutwasmarkedbythebloodofoneoftheseslaves。Thegirlsseldompassedherwithouthersaying，"Movefaster，you~blackgip！~"atthesametimegivingthemablowwiththecowskinovertheheadorshoulders，oftendrawingtheblood。Shewouldthensay，"Takethat，you~blackgip！~"con-
　　tinuing，"Ifyoudon’tmovefaster，I’llmoveyou！"
　　Addedtothecruellashingstowhichtheseslavesweresubjected，theywerekeptnearlyhalf-starved。
　　Theyseldomknewwhatitwastoeatafullmeal。
　　IhaveseenMarycontendingwiththepigsfortheoffalthrownintothestreet。SomuchwasMarykickedandcuttopieces，thatshewasoftenercalled"~pecked~"thanbyhername。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　IlivedinMasterHugh’sfamilyaboutsevenyears。
　　Duringthistime，Isucceededinlearningtoreadandwrite。Inaccomplishingthis，Iwascompelledtore-
　　sorttovariousstratagems。Ihadnoregularteacher。
　　Mymistress，whohadkindlycommencedtoinstructme，had，incompliancewiththeadviceanddirec-
　　tionofherhusband，notonlyceasedtoinstruct，buthadsetherfaceagainstmybeinginstructedbyanyoneelse。Itisdue，however，tomymistresstosayofher，thatshedidnotadoptthiscourseoftreat-
　　mentimmediately。Sheatfirstlackedthedepravityindispensabletoshuttingmeupinmentaldarkness。
　　Itwasatleastnecessaryforhertohavesometrainingintheexerciseofirresponsiblepower，tomakeherequaltothetaskoftreatingmeasthoughIwereabrute。
　　Mymistresswas，asIhavesaid，akindandtender-
　　heartedwoman;andinthesimplicityofhersoulshecommenced，whenIfirstwenttolivewithher，totreatmeasshesupposedonehumanbeingoughttotreatanother。Inenteringuponthedutiesofaslaveholder，shedidnotseemtoperceivethatIsus-
　　tainedtohertherelationofamerechattel，andthatforhertotreatmeasahumanbeingwasnotonlywrong，butdangerouslyso。Slaveryprovedasinjurioustoherasitdidtome。WhenIwentthere，shewasapious，warm，andtender-heartedwoman。
　　Therewasnosorroworsufferingforwhichshehadnotatear。Shehadbreadforthehungry，clothesforthenaked，andcomfortforeverymournerthatcamewithinherreach。Slaverysoonproveditsabilitytodivestheroftheseheavenlyqualities。Underitsin-
　　fluence，thetenderheartbecamestone，andthelamblikedispositiongavewaytooneoftiger-likefierceness。Thefirststepinherdownwardcoursewasinherceasingtoinstructme。Shenowcommencedtopractiseherhusband’sprecepts。Shefinallybe-
　　cameevenmoreviolentinheroppositionthanherhusbandhimself。Shewasnotsatisfiedwithsimplydoingaswellashehadcommanded;sheseemedanxioustodobetter。Nothingseemedtomakehermoreangrythantoseemewithanewspaper。Sheseemedtothinkthatherelaythedanger。Ihavehadherrushatmewithafacemadeallupoffury，andsnatchfrommeanewspaper，inamannerthatfullyrevealedherapprehension。Shewasanaptwoman;
　　andalittleexperiencesoondemonstrated，tohersatisfaction，thateducationandslaverywereincom-
　　patiblewitheachother。
　　FromthistimeIwasmostnarrowlywatched。IfI
　　wasinaseparateroomanyconsiderablelengthoftime，Iwassuretobesuspectedofhavingabook，andwasatoncecalledtogiveanaccountofmyself。
　　Allthis，however，wastoolate。Thefirststephadbeentaken。Mistress，inteachingmethealphabet，hadgivenmethe~inch，~andnoprecautioncouldpre-
　　ventmefromtakingthe~ell。~
　　TheplanwhichIadopted，andtheonebywhichIwasmostsuccessful，wasthatofmakingfriendsofallthelittlewhiteboyswhomImetinthestreet。
　　AsmanyoftheseasIcould，Iconvertedintoteach-
　　ers。Withtheirkindlyaid，obtainedatdifferenttimesandindifferentplaces，Ifinallysucceededinlearn-
　　ingtoread。WhenIwassentoferrands，Ialwaystookmybookwithme，andbygoingonepartofmyerrandquickly，Ifoundtimetogetalessonbe-
　　foremyreturn。Iusedalsotocarrybreadwithme，enoughofwhichwasalwaysinthehouse，andtowhichIwasalwayswelcome;forIwasmuchbetteroffinthisregardthanmanyofthepoorwhitechil-
　　dreninourneighborhood。ThisbreadIusedtobe-
　　stowuponthehungrylittleurchins，who，inreturn，wouldgivemethatmorevaluablebreadofknowl-
　　edge。Iamstronglytemptedtogivethenamesoftwoorthreeofthoselittleboys，asatestimonialofthegratitudeandaffectionIbearthem;butpru-
　　denceforbids;——notthatitwouldinjureme，butitmightembarrassthem;foritisalmostanunpar-
　　donableoffencetoteachslavestoreadinthisChris-
　　tiancountry。Itisenoughtosayofthedearlittlefellows，thattheylivedonPhilpotStreet，verynearDurginandBailey’sship-yard。Iusedtotalkthismatterofslaveryoverwiththem。Iwouldsometimessaytothem，IwishedIcouldbeasfreeastheywouldbewhentheygottobemen。"Youwillbefreeassoonasyouaretwenty-one，~butIamaslaveforlife！~HavenotIasgoodarighttobefreeasyouhave？"Thesewordsusedtotroublethem;theywouldexpressformetheliveliestsympathy，andcon-
　　solemewiththehopethatsomethingwouldoccurbywhichImightbefree。
　　Iwasnowabouttwelveyearsold，andthethoughtofbeing~aslaveforlife~begantobearheavilyuponmyheart。Justaboutthistime，Igotholdofabookentitled"TheColumbianOrator。"Everyopportu-
　　nityIgot，Iusedtoreadthisbook。Amongmuchofotherinterestingmatter，Ifoundinitadialoguebe-
　　tweenamasterandhisslave。Theslavewasrepre-
　　sentedashavingrunawayfromhismasterthreetimes。Thedialoguerepresentedtheconversationwhichtookplacebetweenthem，whentheslavewasretakenthethirdtime。Inthisdialogue，thewholeargumentinbehalfofslaverywasbroughtforwardbythemaster，allofwhichwasdisposedofbytheslave。Theslavewasmadetosaysomeverysmartaswellasimpressivethingsinreplytohismaster——
　　thingswhichhadthedesiredthoughunexpectedef-
　　fect;fortheconversationresultedinthevoluntaryemancipationoftheslaveonthepartofthemaster。
　　Inthesamebook，ImetwithoneofSheridan’smightyspeechesonandinbehalfofCatholiceman-
　　cipation。Thesewerechoicedocumentstome。Ireadthemoverandoveragainwithunabatedinterest。
　　Theygavetonguetointerestingthoughtsofmyownsoul，whichhadfrequentlyflashedthroughmymind，anddiedawayforwantofutterance。ThemoralwhichIgainedfromthedialoguewasthepoweroftruthovertheconscienceofevenaslaveholder。WhatIgotfromSheridanwasabolddenunciationofslav-
　　ery，andapowerfulvindicationofhumanrights。
　　Thereadingofthesedocumentsenabledmetouttermythoughts，andtomeettheargumentsbroughtforwardtosustainslavery;butwhiletheyrelievedmeofonedifficulty，theybroughtonan-
　　otherevenmorepainfulthantheoneofwhichIwasrelieved。ThemoreIread，themoreIwasledtoabhoranddetestmyenslavers。Icouldregardtheminnootherlightthanabandofsuccessfulrobbers，whohadlefttheirhomes，andgonetoAfrica，andstolenusfromourhomes，andinastrangelandreducedustoslavery。Iloathedthemasbeingthemeanestaswellasthemostwickedofmen。AsI
　　readandcontemplatedthesubject，behold！thatverydiscontentmentwhichMasterHughhadpredictedwouldfollowmylearningtoreadhadalreadycome，totormentandstingmysoultounutterableanguish。
　　AsIwrithedunderit，Iwouldattimesfeelthatlearningtoreadhadbeenacurseratherthanabless-
　　ing。Ithadgivenmeaviewofmywretchedcondi-
　　tion，withouttheremedy。Itopenedmyeyestothehorriblepit，buttonoladderuponwhichtogetout。
　　Inmomentsofagony，Ienviedmyfellow-slavesfortheirstupidity。Ihaveoftenwishedmyselfabeast。
　　Ipreferredtheconditionofthemeanestreptiletomyown。Anything，nomatterwhat，togetridofthinking！Itwasthiseverlastingthinkingofmycon-
　　ditionthattormentedme。Therewasnogettingridofit。Itwaspresseduponmebyeveryobjectwithinsightorhearing，animateorinanimate。Thesilvertrumpoffreedomhadrousedmysoultoeternalwakefulness。Freedomnowappeared，todisappearnomoreforever。Itwasheardineverysound，andseenineverything。Itwaseverpresenttotormentmewithasenseofmywretchedcondition。Isawnothingwithoutseeingit，Iheardnothingwithouthearingit，andfeltnothingwithoutfeelingit。Itlookedfromeverystar，itsmiledineverycalm，breathedineverywind，andmovedineverystorm。
　　Ioftenfoundmyselfregrettingmyownexistence，andwishingmyselfdead;andbutforthehopeofbeingfree，IhavenodoubtbutthatIshouldhavekilledmyself，ordonesomethingforwhichIshouldhavebeenkilled。Whileinthisstateofmind，Iwaseagertohearanyonespeakofslavery。Iwasareadylistener。Everylittlewhile，Icouldhearsomethingabouttheabolitionists。ItwassometimebeforeI
　　foundwhatthewordmeant。Itwasalwaysusedinsuchconnectionsastomakeitaninterestingwordtome。Ifaslaveranawayandsucceededingettingclear，orifaslavekilledhismaster，setfiretoabarn，ordidanythingverywronginthemindofaslaveholder，itwasspokenofasthefruitof~abolition。~
　　Hearingthewordinthisconnectionveryoften，Isetaboutlearningwhatitmeant。Thedictionaryaf-
　　fordedmelittleornohelp。Ifounditwas"theactofabolishing;"butthenIdidnotknowwhatwastobeabolished。HereIwasperplexed。Ididnotdaretoaskanyoneaboutitsmeaning，forIwassatisfiedthatitwassomethingtheywantedmetoknowverylittleabout。Afterapatientwaiting，Igotoneofourcitypapers，containinganaccountofthenumberofpetitionsfromthenorth，prayingfortheabolitionofslaveryintheDistrictofColumbia，andoftheslavetradebetweentheStates。FromthistimeIunderstoodthewords~abolition~and~abolition-
　　ist，~andalwaysdrewnearwhenthatwordwasspoken，expectingtohearsomethingofimportancetomy-
　　selfandfellow-slaves。Thelightbrokeinuponmebydegrees。IwentonedaydownonthewharfofMr。Waters;andseeingtwoIrishmenunloadingascowofstone，Iwent，unasked，andhelpedthem。
　　Whenwehadfinished，oneofthemcametomeandaskedmeifIwereaslave。ItoldhimIwas。Heasked，"Areyeaslaveforlife？"ItoldhimthatI
　　was。ThegoodIrishmanseemedtobedeeplyaf-
　　fectedbythestatement。Hesaidtotheotherthatitwasapitysofinealittlefellowasmyselfshouldbeaslaveforlife。Hesaiditwasashametoholdme。Theybothadvisedmetorunawaytothenorth;
　　thatIshouldfindfriendsthere，andthatIshouldbefree。Ipretendednottobeinterestedinwhattheysaid，andtreatedthemasifIdidnotunder-
　　standthem;forIfearedtheymightbetreacherous。
　　Whitemenhavebeenknowntoencourageslavestoescape，andthen，togetthereward，catchthemandreturnthemtotheirmasters。Iwasafraidthattheseseeminglygoodmenmightusemeso;butInever-
　　thelessrememberedtheiradvice，andfromthattimeIresolvedtorunaway。Ilookedforwardtoatimeatwhichitwouldbesafeformetoescape。Iwastooyoungtothinkofdoingsoimmediately;besides，Iwishedtolearnhowtowrite，asImighthaveoc-
　　casiontowritemyownpass。IconsoledmyselfwiththehopethatIshouldonedayfindagoodchance。
　　Meanwhile，Iwouldlearntowrite。
　　TheideaastohowImightlearntowritewassuggestedtomebybeinginDurginandBailey’sship-yard，andfrequentlyseeingtheshipcarpenters，afterhewing，andgettingapieceoftimberreadyforuse，writeonthetimberthenameofthatpartoftheshipforwhichitwasintended。Whenapieceoftimberwasintendedforthelarboardside，itwouldbemarkedthus——"L。"Whenapiecewasforthestarboardside，itwouldbemarkedthus——"S。"A
　　pieceforthelarboardsideforward，wouldbemarkedthus——"L。F。"Whenapiecewasforstarboardsideforward，itwouldbemarkedthus——"S。F。"Forlar-
　　boardaft，itwouldbemarkedthus——"L。A。"Forstar-
　　boardaft，itwouldbemarkedthus——"S。A。"Isoonlearnedthenamesoftheseletters，andforwhattheywereintendedwhenplaceduponapieceoftimberintheship-yard。Iimmediatelycommencedcopyingthem，andinashorttimewasabletomakethefourlettersnamed。Afterthat，whenImetwithanyboywhoIknewcouldwrite，IwouldtellhimIcouldwriteaswellashe。Thenextwordwouldbe，"Idon’tbelieveyou。Letmeseeyoutryit。"IwouldthenmaketheletterswhichIhadbeensofortunateastolearn，andaskhimtobeatthat。InthiswayI
　　gotagoodmanylessonsinwriting，whichitisquitepossibleIshouldneverhavegotteninanyotherway。
　　Duringthistime，mycopy-bookwastheboardfence，brickwall，andpavement;mypenandinkwasalumpofchalk。Withthese，Ilearnedmainlyhowtowrite。IthencommencedandcontinuedcopyingtheItalicsinWebster’sSpellingBook，untilIcouldmakethemallwithoutlookingonthebook。Bythistime，mylittleMasterThomashadgonetoschool，andlearnedhowtowrite，andhadwrittenoveranumberofcopy-books。Thesehadbeenbroughthome，andshowntosomeofournearneighbors，andthenlaidaside。MymistressusedtogotoclassmeetingattheWilkStreetmeetinghouseeveryMondayafter-
　　noon，andleavemetotakecareofthehouse。Whenleftthus，IusedtospendthetimeinwritinginthespacesleftinMasterThomas’scopy-book，copyingwhathehadwritten。IcontinuedtodothisuntilI
　　couldwriteahandverysimilartothatofMasterThomas。Thus，afteralong，tediouseffortforyears，Ifinallysucceededinlearninghowtowrite。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　InaveryshorttimeafterIwenttoliveatBalti-
　　more，myoldmaster’syoungestsonRicharddied;
　　andinaboutthreeyearsandsixmonthsafterhisdeath，myoldmaster，CaptainAnthony，died，leav-
　　onlyhisson，Andrew，anddaughter，Lucretia，tosharehisestate。HediedwhileonavisittoseehisdaughteratHillsborough。Cutoffthusunexpectedly，heleftnowillastothedisposalofhisproperty。Itwasthereforenecessarytohaveavaluationoftheproperty，thatitmightbeequallydividedbetweenMrs。LucretiaandMasterAndrew。Iwasimmedi-
　　atelysentfor，tobevaluedwiththeotherproperty。
　　Hereagainmyfeelingsroseupindetestationofslavery。Ihadnowanewconceptionofmydegradedcondition。Priortothis，Ihadbecome，ifnotin-
　　sensibletomylot，atleastpartlyso。IleftBaltimorewithayoungheartoverbornewithsadness，andasoulfullofapprehension。ItookpassagewithCap-
　　tainRowe，intheschoonerWildCat，and，afterasailofabouttwenty-fourhours，Ifoundmyselfneartheplaceofmybirth。Ihadnowbeenabsentfromitalmost，ifnotquite，fiveyears。I，however，re-
　　memberedtheplaceverywell。IwasonlyaboutfiveyearsoldwhenIleftit，togoandlivewithmyoldmasteronColonelLloyd’splantation;sothatIwasnowbetweentenandelevenyearsold。
　　Wewereallrankedtogetheratthevaluation。Menandwomen，oldandyoung，marriedandsingle，wererankedwithhorses，sheep，andswine。Therewerehorsesandmen，cattleandwomen，pigsandchil-
　　dren，allholdingthesamerankinthescaleofbeing，andwereallsubjectedtothesamenarrowexamina-
　　tion。Silvery-headedageandsprightlyyouth，maidsandmatrons，hadtoundergothesameindelicateinspection。Atthismoment，Isawmoreclearlythaneverthebrutalizingeffectsofslaveryuponbothslaveandslaveholder。
　　Afterthevaluation，thencamethedivision。Ihavenolanguagetoexpressthehighexcitementanddeepanxietywhichwerefeltamonguspoorslavesduringthistime。Ourfateforlifewasnowtobedecided。
　　wehadnomorevoiceinthatdecisionthanthebrutesamongwhomwewereranked。Asinglewordfromthewhitemenwasenough——againstallourwishes，prayers，andentreaties——tosunderforeverthedearestfriends，dearestkindred，andstrongesttiesknowntohumanbeings。Inadditiontothepainofseparation，therewasthehorriddreadoffallingintothehandsofMasterAndrew。Hewasknowntousallasbeingamostcruelwretch，——acommondrunk-
　　ard，whohad，byhisrecklessmismanagementandprofligatedissipation，alreadywastedalargepor-
　　tionofhisfather’sproperty。WeallfeltthatwemightaswellbesoldatoncetotheGeorgiatraders，astopassintohishands;forweknewthatthatwouldbeourinevitablecondition，——aconditionheldbyusallintheutmosthorroranddread。
　　Isufferedmoreanxietythanmostofmyfellow-
　　slaves。Ihadknownwhatitwastobekindlytreated;
　　theyhadknownnothingofthekind。Theyhadseenlittleornothingoftheworld。Theywereinverydeedmenandwomenofsorrow，andacquaintedwithgrief。Theirbackshadbeenmadefamiliarwiththebloodylash，sothattheyhadbecomecallous;minewasyettender;forwhileatBaltimoreIgotfewwhip-
　　pings，andfewslavescouldboastofakindermasterandmistressthanmyself;andthethoughtofpass-
　　ingoutoftheirhandsintothoseofMasterAndrew——
　　amanwho，butafewdaysbefore，togivemeasampleofhisbloodydisposition，tookmylittlebrotherbythethroat，threwhimontheground，andwiththeheelofhisbootstampeduponhisheadtillthebloodgushedfromhisnoseandears——waswellcalculatedtomakemeanxiousastomyfate。
　　Afterhehadcommittedthissavageoutrageuponmybrother，heturnedtome，andsaidthatwasthewayhemeanttoservemeoneofthesedays，——mean-
　　ing，Isuppose，whenIcameintohispossession。
　　ThankstoakindProvidence，IfelltotheportionofMrs。Lucretia，andwassentimmediatelybacktoBaltimore，toliveagaininthefamilyofMasterHugh。Theirjoyatmyreturnequalledtheirsorrowatmydeparture。Itwasagladdaytome。Ihadescapedaworsethanlion’sjaws。IwasabsentfromBaltimore，forthepurposeofvaluationanddivision，justaboutonemonth，anditseemedtohavebeensix。
　　VerysoonaftermyreturntoBaltimore，mymis-
　　tress，Lucretia，died，leavingherhusbandandonechild，Amanda;andinaveryshorttimeafterherdeath，MasterAndrewdied。Nowallthepropertyofmyoldmaster，slavesincluded，wasinthehandsofstrangers，——strangerswhohadhadnothingtodowithaccumulatingit。Notaslavewasleftfree。Allremainedslaves，fromtheyoungesttotheoldest。Ifanyonethinginmyexperience，morethananother，servedtodeepenmyconvictionoftheinfernalchar-
　　acterofslavery，andtofillmewithunutterableloathingofslaveholders，itwastheirbaseingrati-
　　tudetomypooroldgrandmother。Shehadservedmyoldmasterfaithfullyfromyouthtooldage。Shehadbeenthesourceofallhiswealth;shehadpeo-
　　pledhisplantationwithslaves;shehadbecomeagreatgrandmotherinhisservice。Shehadrockedhimininfancy，attendedhiminchildhood，servedhimthroughlife，andathisdeathwipedfromhisicybrowthecolddeath-sweat，andclosedhiseyesforever。Shewasneverthelessleftaslave——aslaveforlife——aslaveinthehandsofstrangers;andintheirhandsshesawherchildren，hergrandchildren，andhergreat-grandchildren，divided，likesomanysheep，withoutbeinggratifiedwiththesmallprivilegeofasingleword，astotheirorherowndestiny。And，tocaptheclimaxoftheirbaseingratitudeandfiendishbarbarity，mygrandmother，whowasnowveryold，havingoutlivedmyoldmasterandallhischildren，havingseenthebeginningandendofallofthem，andherpresentownersfindingshewasofbutlittlevalue，herframealreadyrackedwiththepainsofoldage，andcompletehelplessnessfaststealingoverheronceactivelimbs，theytookhertothewoods，builtheralittlehut，putupalittlemud-chimney，andthenmadeherwelcometotheprivilegeofsupport-
　　ingherselfthereinperfectloneliness;thusvirtuallyturningherouttodie！Ifmypooroldgrandmothernowlives，shelivestosufferinutterloneliness;shelivestorememberandmournoverthelossofchil-
　　dren，thelossofgrandchildren，andthelossofgreat-
　　grandchildren。Theyare，inthelanguageoftheslave’spoet，Whittier，——
　　"Gone，gone，soldandgoneTothericeswampdankandlone，Wheretheslave-whipceaselessswings，Wherethenoisomeinsectstings，Wherethefever-demonstrewsPoisonwiththefallingdews，WherethesicklysunbeamsglareThroughthehotandmistyair：——
　　Gone，gone，soldandgoneTothericeswampdankandlone，FromVirginiahillsandwaters——
　　Woeisme，mystolendaughters！"
　　Thehearthisdesolate。Thechildren，theuncon-
　　sciouschildren，whooncesanganddancedinherpresence，aregone。Shegropesherway，inthedark-
　　nessofage，foradrinkofwater。Insteadofthevoicesofherchildren，shehearsbydaythemoansofthedove，andbynightthescreamsofthehideousowl。
　　Allisgloom。Thegraveisatthedoor。Andnow，whenweigheddownbythepainsandachesofoldage，whentheheadinclinestothefeet，whenthebeginningandendingofhumanexistencemeet，andhelplessinfancyandpainfuloldagecombineto-
　　gether——atthistime，thismostneedfultime，thetimefortheexerciseofthattendernessandaffectionwhichchildrenonlycanexercisetowardsadecliningparent——mypooroldgrandmother，thedevotedmotheroftwelvechildren，isleftallalone，inyonderlittlehut，beforeafewdimembers。Shestands——
　　shesits——shestaggers——shefalls——shegroans——shedies——andtherearenoneofherchildrenorgrandchildrenpresent，towipefromherwrinkledbrowthecoldsweatofdeath，ortoplacebeneaththesodherfallenremains。WillnotarighteousGodvisitforthesethings？
　　InabouttwoyearsafterthedeathofMrs。Lu-
　　cretia，MasterThomasmarriedhissecondwife。HernamewasRowenaHamilton。ShewastheeldestdaughterofMr。WilliamHamilton。MasternowlivedinSt。Michael’s。Notlongafterhismarriage，amisunderstandingtookplacebetweenhimselfandMasterHugh;andasameansofpunishinghisbrother，hetookmefromhimtolivewithhimselfatSt。Michael’s。HereIunderwentanothermostpainfulseparation。It，however，wasnotsosevereastheoneIdreadedatthedivisionofproperty;for，duringthisinterval，agreatchangehadtakenplaceinMasterHughandhisoncekindandaffectionatewife。Theinfluenceofbrandyuponhim，andofslaveryuponher，hadeffectedadisastrouschangeinthecharactersofboth;sothat，asfarastheywereconcerned，IthoughtIhadlittletolosebythechange。ButitwasnottothemthatIwasattached。
　　ItwastothoselittleBaltimoreboysthatIfeltthestrongestattachment。Ihadreceivedmanygoodlessonsfromthem，andwasstillreceivingthem，andthethoughtofleavingthemwaspainfulindeed。I
　　wasleaving，too，withoutthehopeofeverbeingallowedtoreturn。MasterThomashadsaidhewouldneverletmereturnagain。Thebarrierbetwixthim-
　　selfandbrotherheconsideredimpassable。
　　IthenhadtoregretthatIdidnotatleastmaketheattempttocarryoutmyresolutiontorunaway;
　　forthechancesofsuccessaretenfoldgreaterfromthecitythanfromthecountry。
　　IsailedfromBaltimoreforSt。Michael’sinthesloopAmanda，CaptainEdwardDodson。Onmypassage，IpaidparticularattentiontothedirectionwhichthesteamboatstooktogotoPhiladelphia。I
　　found，insteadofgoingdown，onreachingNorthPointtheywentupthebay，inanorth-easterlydirec-
　　tion。Ideemedthisknowledgeoftheutmostim-
　　portance。Mydeterminationtorunawaywasagainrevived。Iresolvedtowaitonlysolongastheofferingofafavorableopportunity。Whenthatcame，Iwasdeterminedtobeoff。
　　CHAPTERIX
　　IhavenowreachedaperiodofmylifewhenI
　　cangivedates。IleftBaltimore，andwenttolivewithMasterThomasAuld，atSt。Michael’s，inMarch，1832。ItwasnowmorethansevenyearssinceIlivedwithhiminthefamilyofmyoldmas-
　　ter，onColonelLloyd’splantation。Weofcoursewerenowalmostentirestrangerstoeachother。Hewastomeanewmaster，andItohimanewslave。
　　Iwasignorantofhistemperanddisposition;hewasequallysoofmine。Averyshorttime，however，broughtusintofullacquaintancewitheachother。