CHAPTER XII.--FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

The Opportunity for Every Man in a Republic--The Depth Below a White Man's Poverty--The Starting Point whence Fred Douglass Raised Himself--His Mother--Her Noble Traits--Her Self Denial for the sake of Seeing him--She Defends him against Aunt Katy--Her Death--Col. Loyd's Plantation--The Luxury of his own Mansion--The Organization of his Estate--"Old Master"-- How they Punished the Women--How Young Douglass Philosophized on Being a Slave--Plantation Life--The Allowance of Food --The Clothes--An Average Plantation Day--Mr. Douglass' Experience as a Slave Child--The Slave Children's Trough--The Slave Child's Thoughts--The Melancholy of Slave Songs--He Becomes a House Servant--A Kind Mistress Teaches him to Read-- How he Completed his Education--Effects of Learning to Read-- Experiences Religion and Prays for Liberty--Learns to Write-- Hires his Time, and Absconds--Becomes a Free Working-Man in New Bedford--Marries--Mr. Douglass on Garrison--Mr. Douglass' Literary Career. 380