Page:Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1882).djvu/14

 £ CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

A SLAVEHOLDER'S CHARACTER. Increasing acquaintance with old master — Evils of unresisted passion- Apparent tenderness — A man of trouble — Custom of muttering to himself — Brutal outrage — A drunken overseer — Slaveholder's impa- tience — Wisdom of appeal — A base and selfish attempt to break up a courtship 48

CHAPTER VI.

A CHILD'S REASONING. The author's early reflections on slavery — Aunt Jennie and Uncle Noah — Presentment of one day becoming a freeman — Conflict between an overseer and a slave woman — Advantage of resistance — Death of an overseer — Col. Lloyd's plantation home — Monthly distribution of food — Singing of slaves — An explanation — The slaves' food and clothing — Naked children — Life in the quarter — Sleeping places — not beds — Deprivation of sleep — Care of nursing babies — Ash cake — Contrast. . . .53

CHAPTER VH.

LUXURIES AT THE GREAT HOUSE.

Contrasts — Great House luxuries — Its hospitality — Entertainments — Fault-finding — Shameful humiliation of an old and faithful coachman —William Wilks — Curious incident — Expressed satisfaction not al- ways genuine — Reasons for suppressing the truth 61

CHAPTER VIII.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OVERSEERS. Austin Gore — Sketch of his character — Overseers as a class — Their peculiar characteristics — The marked individuality of Austin Gore — His sense of duty — Murder of poor Denby — Sensation — How Gore made his peace with Col. Lloyd — Other horrible murders — No laws for the protection of slaves possible of being enforced. 71

CHAPTER IX.

CHANGE OF LOCATION.

Miss Lucretia — Her kindness — How it was manifested — "Ike" — A battle with him — Miss Lucretia's balsam — Bread — How it was obtained — Gleams of sunset amidst the general darkness — Suffering from cold — How we took our meal mush — Preparations for going to Baltimore — Delight at the change — Cousin Tom's opinion of Baltimore — Arrival there — Kind reception — Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Auld — Their son Tommy — il j re&tioas to them — My duties — A turning-point in my Ufa 78