Index:My Bondage and My Freedom (1855).djvu

Title	My Bondage and My Freedom
Author	Frederick Douglass
Editor	James McCune Smith
Year	1855
Publisher	Miller, Orton & Mulligan
Location	New York and Auburn
Source	djvu
Progress	Done—All pages of the work proper are validated
Transclusion	Fully transcluded
Validated in	September 2017

Pages (key to Page Status)

- - - - - - - Frontis Title ii iii - v vi vii viii ix x xi xii xiii xiv xv xvi xvii xviii xix xx xxi xxii xxiii xxiv xxv xxvi xxvii xxviii xxix xxx xxxi - - Img 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 - Img 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 Adv Adv Adv Adv Adv Adv Adv Adv - - - - - -

 

CONTENTS.

	PAGE.
Introduction,	17
Chapter I.
THE AUTHOR'S CHILDHOOD.
Place of Birth,	33
Character of the District,	34
Time of Birth—My Grandparents,	35
Character of my Grandmother,	36
The Log Cabin—Its Charms,	37
First Knowledge of being a Slave,	38
Old Master—Griefs and Joys of Childhood,	39
Comparative Happiness of the Slave-Boy and his White Brother,	40
Chapter II.
THE AUTHOR REMOVED FROM HIS FIRST HOME.
The name "Old Master" a Terror,	43
Home Attractions—Dread of being removed from Tuckahoe,	44
The Journey to Col. Lloyd's Plantation,	46
Scene on reaching Old Master's,	47
First Meeting with my Brothers and Sisters,	48
Departure of Grandmother—Author's Grief,	49
Chapter III.
THE AUTHOR'S PARENTAGE.
Author's Father shrouded in Mystery,	51
My Mother—Her Personal Appearance,	52
Her Situation—Visits to her Boy,	53
Cruelty of "Aunt Katy"—Threatened Starvation,	55
My Mother's Interference,	56
Her Death,	57
Her Love of Knowledge,	58
Penalty for having a White Father,	59
Chapter IV.
A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE SLAVE PLANTATION.
Slaveholding Cruelty restrained by Public Opinion,	61
Isolation of Lloyd's Plantation,	62
Beyond the reach of Public Opinion,	53
Religion and Politics alike Excluded,	64
Natural and Artificial Charms of the Place,	65
The "Great House,"	67
Etiquette among Slaves,	69
The Comic Slave-Doctor,	70
Praying and Flogging,	71
Business of Old Master,	73
Sufferings from Hunger,	75
Jargon of the Plantation,	76
Family of Col. Lloyd—Mas' Daniel,	77
Family of Old Master—Social Position,	78
Chapter V.
GRADUAL INITIATION INTO THE MYSTERIES OF SLAVERY.
Growing Acquaintance with Old Master—His Character,	79
Evils of Unrestrained Passion—A Man of Trouble,	80
Supposed Obtuseness of Slave-Children,	81
Brutal Outrage on my Aunt Milly by a drunken Overseer,	82
Slaveholders' Impatience at Appeals against Cruelty,	83
Wisdom of appealing to Superiors,	84
Attempt to break up a Courtship,	85
Slavery destroys all Incentives to a Virtuous Life,	86
A Harrowing Scene,	87
Chapter VI.
TREATMENT OF SLAVES ON LLOYD'S PLANTATION.
The Author's Early Reflections on Slavery,	89
Conclusions at which he Arrived,	90
Presentiment of one day being a Freeman,	91
Combat between an Overseer and & Slave-Woman,	92
Nelly's noble Resistance,	94
Advantages of Resistance,	95
Mr. Sevier, the brutal Overseer, and his Successors,	96
Allowance-day on the Home Plantation,	97
The Singing of the Slaves no Proof of Contentment,	98
Food and Clothing of the Slaves,	100
Naked Children,	101
Nursing Children carried to the Field,	102
Description of the Cowskin,	103
Manner of making the Ash Cake—The Dinner Hour,	104
Contrast at the Great House,	105
Chapter VII.
LIFE IN THE GREAT HOUSE.
Comfort And Luxuries—Elaborate Expenditure,	107
Men and Maid Servants—Black Aristocracy,	109
Stable and Carriage House,	110
Deceptive Character of Slavery,	111
Slaves and Slaveholders alike Unhappy,	112
Fretfulness and Capriciousness of Slaveholders,	113
Whipping of Old Barney by Col. Lloyd,	114
William Wilks, a supposed son of Col. Lloyd,	115
Curious Incident—Penalty of telling the Truth,	116
Preference of Slaves for Rich Masters,	118
Chapter VIII.
A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.
Austin Gore—Sketch of his Character,	119
Absolute Power of Overseers,	121
Murder of Denby—How it Occurred,	122
How Gore made Peace with Col. Lloyd,	123
Murder of a Slave-girl by Mrs. Hicks,	125
No Laws for the Protection of Slaves can be Enforced,	127
Chapter IX.
PERSONAL TREATMENT OF THE AUTHOR.
Miss Lucretia Auld—Her Kindness,	129
A Battle with "Ike," and its Consequences,	130
Beams of Sunlight,	131
Suffering from Cold—How we took our Meals,	132
Orders to prepare to go to Baltimore—Extraordinary Cleansing,	134
Cousin Tom's Description of Baltimore,	135
The Journey,	136
Arrival at Baltimore,	137
Kindness of my new Mistress—Little Tommy,	138
A Turning Point in my History,	139
Chapter X.
LIFE IN BALTIMORE.
City Annoyances—Plantation Regrets,	141
My Improved Condition,	142
Character of my new Master, Hugh Auld,	143
My Occupation—Increased Sensitiveness,	144
Commencement of Learning to Read—Why Discontinued,	145
Master Hugh's Exposition of the true Philosophy of Slavery,	146
Increased Determination to Learn,	147
Contrast between City and Plantation Slaves,	148
Mrs. Hamilton's Brutal Treatment of her Slaves,	149
Chapter XI.
"A CHANGE CAME O'ER THE SPIRIT OF MY DREAM."
Knowledge Acquired by Stealth,	151
My Mistress—Her Slaveholding Duties,	152
Deplorable Effects on her Character,	153
How I pursued my Education—My Tutors,	155
My Deliberations on the Character of Slavery,	156
The Columbian Orator and its Lessons,	157
Speeches of Chatham, Sheridan, Pitt, and Fox,	158
Knowledge ever Increasing—My Eyes Opened,	159
How I pined for Liberty,	160
Dissatisfaction of my poor Mistress,	161
Chapter XII.
RELIGIOUS NATURE AWAKENED.
Abolitionists spoken of,	163
Eagerness to know what the word meant,	164
The Enigma solved—Turner's Insurrection,	165
First Awakened on the subject of Religion,	166
My Friend Lawson—His Character and Occupation,	167
Comfort Derived from his Teaching,	168
New Hopes and Aspirations,	169
The Irishmen on the Wharf—Their Sympathy,	170
How I learned to Write,	171
Chapter XIII.
THE VICISSITUDES OF SLAVE LIFE.
Death of Young Master Richard,	173
Author's Presence required at the Division of Old Master's Property,	174
Attachment of Slaves to their Homes,	176
Sad Prospects and Grief,	177
General Dread of Master Andrew—His Cruelty,	178
Return to Baltimore—Death of Mistress Lucretia,	179
My poor old Grandmother—Her sad Fate,	180
Second Marriage of Master Thomas,	181
Again Removed from Master Hugh's,	182
Regrets at Leaving Baltimore,	183
A Plan of Escape Entertained,	184
Chapter XIV.
EXPERIENCE IN ST. MICHAEL'S.
The Village and its Inhabitants,	185
Meteoric Phenomena—Author's Impressions,	186
Character of my new Master and Mistress,	187
Allowance of Food—Sufferings from Hunger,	188
Stealing and its Vindication,	189
A new Profession of Faith,	190
Morality of Free Society has no Application to Slave Society,	191
Southern Camp-Meeting—Master Thomas professes Conversion,	193
Hopes and Suspicions,	194
The Result—Faith and Works entirely at Variance,	195
No more Meal brought from the Mill—Methodist Preachers,	197
Their utter Disregard of the Slaves—An Exception,	198
A Sabbath School Instituted,	199
How broken up and by whom,	200
Cruel Treatment of Cousin Henny by Master Thomas,	201
Differences with Master Thomas, and the Consequences,	202
Edward Covey—His Character,	203
Chapter XV.
COVEY, THE NEGRO-BREAKER.
Journey to my new Master's,	205
Meditations by the way,	206
View of Covey's Residence—The Family,	207
Awkwardness as a Field Hand,	208
First Adventure at Ox Driving,	209
Unruly Animals—Hair-breadth Escapes,	211
Oxen and Men—Points of Similarity,	212
Sent back to the Woods,	213
Covey's Manner of proceeding to Whip,	214
His Cunning and Trickery—Severe Labor,	215
Family Worship,	217
Shocking Contempt for Chastity—An Illustration,	218
Author Broken Down—His only Leisure Time,	219
Freedom of the Ships and his own Slavery Contrasted,	220
Anguish beyond Description,	221
Chapter XVI.
ANOTHER PRESSURE OF THE TYRANT'S VICE.
Experience at Covey's summed up,	222
Scene in the Treading Yard,	223
Author taken Ill,	224
Unusual Brutality of Covey,	225
Escape to St Michael's—Suffering in the Woods,	227
Circumstances Narrated to Master Thomas—His Bearing,	229
The Case Prejudged—Driven back to Covey's,	231
Chapter XVII.
THE LAST FLOGGING.
A Sleepless Night—Return to Covey's,	233
His Conduct—Again Escape to the Woods,	234
Deplorable Spectacle—Night in the Woods,	235
An Alarm—A Friend, not an Enemy,	236
Sandy's Hospitality—The Ash Cake Supper,	237
A Conjuror—His Advice—The Magic Root,	238
Want of Faith—The Talisman Accepted,	239
Meeting with Covey—His Sunday Face,	240
His Manner on Monday—A Defensive Resolve,	241
A Rough and Tumble Fight,	242
Unexpected Resistance,	243
Covey's Ineffectual Commands for Assistance,	244
The Victory and its Results,	246
Effects upon my own Character,	247
Chapter XVIII.
NEW RELATIONS AND DUTIES.
Change of Masters—Resolve to Fight my Way,	250
Ability to Read a cause of Prejudice,	251
Manner of Spending the Holidays,	252
The Effects—Sharp hit at Slavery,	253
A Device of Slavery,	255
Difference between Master Freeland and Covey,	257
An Irreligious Master Preferred—The Reasons Why,	258
The Reverend Rigby Hopkins,	259
Catalogue of Floggable Offenses,	260
Rivalry among Slaves Encouraged,	261
Improved Condition at Freeland's,	262
Reasons for continued Discontent,	263
Congenial Society—The Sabbath School,	264
Its Members—Necessity for Secrecy,	265
Affectionate Relations of Master and Pupils,	267
Confidence and Friendship among Slaves,	268
Slavery the Inviter of Vengeance,	269
Chapter XIX.
THE RUNAWAY PLOT.
New Year's Thoughts and Reflections,	271
Again hired by Freeland,	272
Still Devising Plans for gaining Freedom,	273
A Solemn Vow—Plan Divulged to the Slaves,	274
Arguments in its Support—The Scheme gains Favor,	275
Danger of Discovery—Difficulty of Concealment,	276
Skill of Slaveholders—Suspicion and Coercion,	277
Hymns with a Double Meaning,	278
Author's Confederates—His Influence over them,	279
Preliminary Consultations—Pass-Words,	280
Conflict of Hopes and Fears—Ignorance of Geography,	281
Survey of Imaginary Difficulties,	282
Effect upon our Minds,	283
Sandy becomes a Dreamer,	284
Route to the North laid out—Objections Considered,	285
Frauds Practiced on Freemen—Passes Written,	286
Anxieties as the Time drew near,	287
Appeals to Comrades—A Presentiment,	289
The Betrayal Discovered,	290
Manner of Arresting us,	291
Resistance made by Henry Harris—Its Effects,	292
Unique Speech of Mrs. Freeland,	294
Our Sad Procession to Easton,	295
Passes Eaten—The Examination at St. Michael's,	296
No Evidence Produced—Who was the Betrayer?	297
Dragged behind Horses—The Jail a Relief,	298
A New set of Tormentors,	299
Release of my Companions,	300
Author taken out of Prison and sent to Baltimore,	302
Chapter XX.
APPRENTICESHIP LIFE.
Nothing Lost by the Attempt to Run Away,	304
Reasons for sending the Author Away,	305
Unlooked for Clemency in Master Thomas,	306
Return to Baltimore—Change in Little Tommy,	307
Trials in Gardiner's Ship Yard,	308
Desperate Fight with the White Apprentices,	309
Conflict between White and Black Labor,	310
Description of the Outrage,	313
Conduct of Master Hugh,	315
Testimony of a Colored Man Nothing,	316
Spirit of Slavery in Baltimore,	317
Author's Condition Improves,	318
New Associates—Benefits derived therefrom,	319
How to make a Contented Slave,	320
Chapter XXI.
MY ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY.
Manner of Escape not given—Reasons why,	321
Craftiness and Malice of Slaveholders,	322
Want of Wisdom in Publishing Details of Escape,	324
Suspicions Implied by Master Hugh's Manner,	325
Difficulty of Escape—Discontent,	326
Author allowed to Hire his Time,	327
A Gleam of Hope—Hard Terms,	328
Author attends Camp Meeting without Permission,	329
Anger of Master Hugh thereat,	330
Plans of Escape Accelerated thereby,	332
Painful Thoughts of Separation from Friends,	333
The Attempt made—Its Success,	334
Chapter XXII.
LIBERTY ATTAINED.
Author a Wanderer in New York—Feelings on Reaching that City,	336
An Old Acquaintance met,	337
Unfavorable Impressions—Loneliness and Insecurity,	338
Apology for Slaves who Return to their Masters,	339
Make known my Condition—David Ruggles,	340
Author's Marriage—Removal to New Bedford,	341
Kindness of Nathan Johnson—Change of Name,	342
Dark Notions of Northern Civilization enlightened,	344
Contrast between the North and the South,	345
Colored People in New Bedford,	346
An Incident Illustrating their Spirit,	347
The Author finds Employment,	348
Denied Work at his Trade,	349
The first Winter at the North,	350
Proscription in the Church,	351
An Incident at the Communion Table,	353
First Acquaintance with the Liberator,	354
Character of its Editor,	355
Prompt Attendance at Anti-Slavery Meetings,	356
Chapter XXIII.
INTRODUCED TO THE ABOLITIONISTS.
Anti-Slavery Convention at Nantucket,	357
Author's First Speech,	358
Becomes a Public Lecturer,	359
Youthful Enthusiasm,	360
Difficulties in his Position,	361
His Fugitive Slaveship Doubted,	362
Publishes his Narrative—Danger of Recapture,	363
Advised not to Publish his Story,	364
Chapter XXIV.
TWENTY-ONE MONTHS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Good arising out of Unpropitious Events,	365
Embarks for England—Denied Cabin Passage,	366
Mob on board the Cambria—Happy Introduction to the British Public,	367
Letter to Mr. Garrison,	368
"We dont allow Niggers in here,"	371
Time and Labors Abroad,	373
Freedom Purchased—Free Papers,	374
Abolitionists Displeased with the Ransom,	375
How the Author's Energies were Directed in Great Britain,	376
Reception Speech in Finsbury Chapel, London,	377
Character of the Speech Defended,	378
Causes Contributing to my Success,	380
The Free Church of Scotland—Its Position,	381
Agitation of the Slavery Question,	382
Debates in the General Assembly—"Send back the Money,"	383
Dr. Cunningham's Speech—A Striking Incident,	385
The World's Temperance Convention—Collision with Dr. Cox,	387
Proposed Testimonial to the Author,	388
Project of Establishing a Newspaper,	389
Return to America—Again Denied Cabin Passage,	390
Chapter XXV.
VARIOUS INCIDENTS.
Unexpected Opposition to my Newspaper Enterprise,	392
The Objections to it—Their Plausibility Admitted,	393
Motives for going to Rochester,	395
A Change of Opinions—Causes leading to it,	396
Prejudice against Color—The "Jim Crow Car,"	399
An Amusing Domestic Scene,	401
The Author in High Company,	403
Elevation of the Free People of Color—Pledge for the Future,	405
Appendix.
EXTRACTS FROM SPEECHES, ETC.
Reception Speech at Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, England,	407
Letter to his Old Master,	421
The Nature of Slavery,	429
Inhumanity of Slavery,	435
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?	441
The Internal Slave Trade,	446
The Slavery Party,	451
The Anti-Slavery Movement,	457

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