Collection 3: "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" by Frederick Douglass

In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems.

My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else.

My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by any one else.

She at first lacked the depravity indispensable to shutting me up in mental darkness.

In entering upon the duties of a slaveholder, she did not seem to perceive that
I sustained to her the relation of a mere chattel, and that for her to treat me as a human being was not only wrong, but dangerously so.

When I went there, she was a pious, warm, and tender-hearted woman.

Slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities.

She now commenced to practise her husband’s precepts.

I have had her rush at me with a face made all up of fury, and snatch from me a newspaper, in a manner that fully revealed her apprehension.

She was an apt woman; and a little experience soon demonstrated, to her satisfaction, that education and slavery were incompatible with each other.

I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them; but prudence forbids—not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country.

I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them; but prudence forbids—not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this Christian country.

The slave was made to say some very smart as well as impressive things in reply to his master—things which had the desired though unexpected effect; for the conversation resulted in the voluntary emancipation of the slave on the
part of the master.

These were choice documents to me. I read them over and over again with unabated interest.

What I got from Sheridan was a bold denunciation of slavery, and a powerful vindication of human rights.

What I got from Sheridan was a bold denunciation of slavery, and a powerful vindication of human rights.

The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.

It was pressed upon me by every object within sight or hearing, animate or inanimate.