Read Ebook: Life and times of Frederick Douglass by Douglass Frederick Ruffin George L George Lewis Author Of Introduction Etc

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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? 25

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 28

TROUBLES OF CHILDHOOD.

Col. 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 33

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 39

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 48

A CHILD'S REASONING.

The author's early reflections on slavery--Aunt Jennie and Uncle Noah--Presentment 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 53

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 61

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 71

CHANGE OF LOCATION.

Miss Lucretia--Her kindness--How it was manifested--"Ike"-- A battle with him--Miss Lucretia's balsam--Bread--How it was obtained--Gleams of sunset 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 78

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--City slaves--Country slaves--Contrasts--Exceptions-- Mr. Hamilton's two slaves--Mrs. Hamilton's cruel treatment of them--Piteous aspect presented by them--No power to come between the slave and slaveholder 85

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--Sheridan--Pitt--Lords Chatham and Fox--Knowledge increasing--Liberty--Singing--Sadness--Unhappiness of Mrs. Sophia--My hatred of slavery--One Upas tree overshadows us all 92

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 100

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 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 107

EXPERIENCE IN ST. MICHAELS.

St. Michaels and its inhabitants--Capt. Auld--His new wife-- Sufferings 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 negro-breaker 116

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 129

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. Michaels--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 142

THE LAST FLOGGING.

A sleepless night--Return to Covey's--Punished by him--The chase defeated--Vengeance postponed--Musings in the woods-- The alternative--Deplorable spectacle--Night in the woods-- Expected attack--Arrested 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 150

NEW RELATIONS AND DUTIES.

Change of masters--Benefits derived by change--Fame of the fight with Covey--Reckless unconcern--Author's abhorence 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 Sabbath-school--Secresy necessary-- Affectionate relations of tutor and pupils--Confidence and friendship among slaves--Slavery the inviter of vengeance 164

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--Password--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 174

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 Gardiner'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 200

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 212

SECOND PART.

ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY.

Reasons for not having revealed the manner of escape--Nothing of romance in the method--Danger--Free Papers--Unjust tax-- Protection papers--"Free trade and sailors' rights"--American eagle--Railroad train--Unobserving conductor--Capt. McGowan-- Honest German--Fears--Safe arrival in Philadelphia--Ditto in New York 220

LIFE AS A FREEMAN.

INTRODUCED TO THE ABOLITIONISTS.

Anti-Slavery Convention at Nantucket--First Speech--Much Sensation--Extraordinary Speech of Mr. Garrison--Anti-Slavery Agency--Youthful Enthusiasm--Fugitive Slaveship Doubted-- Experience in Slavery Written--Danger of Recapture 244

RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD FRIENDS.

Work in Rhode Island--Dorr War--Recollections of old friends-- Further labors in Rhode Island and elsewhere in New England 250

ONE HUNDRED CONVENTIONS.

Anti-Slavery Conventions held in parts of New England, and in some of the Middle and Western States--Mobs--Incidents, etc. 257

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