the images of the pursued and the pursuers,
with speculation in regard to the capture of the fugitive, and with
prayers for his success in the minds of the slaves. . . .

From now on his quick and comprehending mind saw and suffered things
that formerly never affected him. The hard and sometimes cruel
discipline, toil from sunrise to sunset, scant food, the stifling of
ambitions--all these began now to be perceived and felt, and the
impression they left sank into the soul of this rebellious boy. He saw
a slave killed by an overseer, on no other charge than that of being
"impudent." "Crimes" of this nature were committed, as far as he could
see, with impunity, and the memory of them haunted him by day and by
night.

Thus far Douglass had not felt the overseer's whip. He was too small
for anything except to run errands and to do light chores. Of course,
he had been cuffed about by Aunt Katy; he says he seldom got enough to
eat, and he suffered continually from cold, since his entire wardrobe
consisted of a tow sack. . . .

When Fred became nine years old the most important event in his life
occurred. His master determined to send him to Baltimore to live with
Hugh Auld, a brother of Thomas Auld. Baltimore at this time was little
more than a name to young Douglass. When he reached the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Auld and felt the difference between the plantation cabin
and this city home, it was to him, for a time, like living in Paradise.
Mrs. Auld is described as a lady of great kindness of heart, and of a
gentle disposition. She at once took a tender interest in the little
servant from the plantation. He was much petted and well fed,
permitted to wear boy's clothes and shoes, and for the first time in
his life had a good soft bed to sleep in. His only duty was to take
care of and play with Tommy Auld, which he found both an easy and
agreeable task.

Young Douglass yet knew nothing about reading. A book was as much of a
mystery to him as the stars at night. When he heard his mistress read
aloud from the Bible, his curiosity was aroused. He felt so secure in
her kindness that he had the boldness to ask her to teach him.
Following her natural impulse to do kindness to others, and without,
for a moment, thinking of the danger, she at once consented. He
quickly learned the alphabet and in a short time could spell words of
three syllables. But alas, for his young ambition! When Mr. Auld
discovered what hi