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。