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hated。 That which to him was a great evil； to be
carefully shunned； was to me a great good； to be
diligently sought； and the argument which he so
warmly urged； against my learning to read； only
served to inspire me with a desire and determina…
tion to learn。 In learning to read； I owe almost as
much to the bitter opposition of my master； as to
the kindly aid of my mistress。 I acknowledge the
benefit of both。
I had resided but a short time in Baltimore before
I observed a marked difference； in the treatment of
slaves； from that which I had witnessed in the coun…
try。 A city slave is almost a freeman； compared with
a slave on the plantation。 He is much better fed and
clothed； and enjoys privileges altogether unknown
to the slave on the plantation。 There is a vestige of
decency； a sense of shame； that does much to curb
and check those outbreaks of atrocious cruelty so
commonly enacted upon the plantation。 He is a des…
perate slaveholder； who will shock the humanity of
his non…slaveholding neighbors with the cries of his
lacerated slave。 Few are willing to incur the odium
attaching to the reputation of being a cruel master；
and above all things； they would not be known as
not giving a slave enough to eat。 Every city slave…
holder is anxious to have it known of him； that he
feeds his slaves well； and it is due to them to say；
that most of them do give their slaves enough to eat。
There are； however； some painful exceptions to this
rule。 Directly opposite to us； on Philpot Street； lived
Mr。 Thomas Hamilton。 He owned two slaves。 Their
names were Henrietta and Mary。 Henrietta was
about twenty…two years of age； Mary was about four…
teen； and of all the mangled and emaciated creatures
I ever looked upon； these two were the most so。 His
heart must be harder than stone； that could look
upon these unmoved。 The head； neck； and shoulders
of Mary were literally cut to pieces。 I have fre…
quently felt her head； and found it nearly covered
with festering sores； caused by the lash of her cruel
mistress。 I do not know that her master ever whipped
her； but I have been an eye…witness to the cruelty of
Mrs。 Hamilton。 I used to be in Mr。 Hamilton's house
nearly every day。 Mrs。 Hamilton used to sit in a large
chair in the middle of the room； with a heavy cow…
skin always by her side； and scarce an hour passed
during the day but was marked by the blood of one
of these slaves。 The girls seldom passed her without
her saying； 〃Move faster； you ~black gip！~〃 at the same
time giving them a blow with the cowskin over the
head or shoulders； often drawing the blood。 She
would then say； 〃Take that； you ~black gip！~〃 con…
tinuing； 〃If you don't move faster； I'll move you！〃
Added to the cruel lashings to which these slaves
were subjected； they were kept nearly half…starved。
They seldom knew what it was to eat a full meal。
I have seen Mary contending with the pigs for the
offal thrown into the street。 So much was Mary
kicked and cut to pieces； that she was oftener called
〃~pecked~〃 than by her name。
CHAPTER VII
I lived in Master Hugh's family about seven years。
During this time； I succeeded in learning to read and
write。 In accomplishing this； I was compelled to re…
sort to various stratagems。 I had no regular teacher。
My mistress； who had kindly commenced to instruct
me； had； in compliance with the advice and direc…
tion of her husband； not only ceased to instruct； but
had set her face against my being instructed by any
one else。 It is due； however； to my mistress to say
of her； that she did not adopt this course of treat…
ment immediately。 She at first lacked the depravity
indispensable to shutting me up in mental darkness。
It was at least necessary for her to have some training
in the exercise of irresponsible power； to make her
equal to the task of treating me as though I were
a brute。
My mistress was； as I have said； a kind and tender…
hearted woman； and in the simplicity of her soul she
commenced； when I first went to live with her； to
treat me as she supposed one human being ought
to treat another。 In entering upon the duties of a
slaveholder； she did not seem to perceive that I sus…
tained 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。 Slavery proved as
injurious to her as it did to me。 When I went there；
she was a pious； warm； and tender…hearted woman。
There was no sorrow or suffering for which she had
not a tear。 She had bread for the hungry； clothes for
the naked； and comfort for every mourner that came
within her reach。 Slavery soon proved its ability to
divest her of these heavenly qualities。 Under its in…
fluence； the tender heart became stone； and the
lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger…like
fierceness。 The first step in her downward course was
in her ceasing to instruct me。 She now commenced
to practise her husband's precepts。 She finally be…
came even more violent in her opposition than her
husband himself。 She was not satisfied with simply
doing as well as he had commanded； she seemed
anxious to do better。 Nothing seemed to make her
more angry than to see me with a newspaper。 She
seemed to think that here lay the danger。 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 incom…
patible with each other。
From this time I was most narrowly watched。 If I
was in a separate room any considerable length of
time； I was sure to be suspected of having a book；
and was at once called to give an account of myself。
All this； however； was too late。 The first step had
been taken。 Mistress； in teaching me the alphabet；
had given me the ~inch；~ and no precaution could pre…
vent me from taking the ~ell。~
The plan which I adopted； and the one by which
I was most successful； was that of making friends of
all the little white boys whom I met in the street。
As many of these as I could； I converted into teach…
ers。 With their kindly aid； obtained at different times
and in different places； I finally succeeded in learn…
ing to read。 When I was sent of errands； I always
took my book with me； and by going one part of
my errand quickly； I found time to get a lesson be…
fore my return。 I used also to carry bread with me；
enough of which was always in the house； and to
which I was always welcome； for I was much better
off in this regard than many of the poor white chil…
dren in our neighborhood。 This bread I used to be…
stow upon the hungry little urchins； who； in return；
would give me that more valuable bread of knowl…
edge。 I am strongly tempted to give the names of
two