ds of blades in
my hand, every blade driven through the flesh, and all so inextricably
bent and tangled together that I could not withdraw them for some time;
and when I did, from my lacerated fingers the bloody fibres would
stretch out all quivering with life. After a frightful paroxysm of
this kind I would start like a maniac from my bed, and beg for life,
life! What I of late thought so worthless seemed now to be of
unappreciable value. I dreaded to die, and clung to existence with a
feeling that my soul's salvation depended on a little more of life.

In about a week I gained, in a great degree, the mastery over my
accursed appetite; but the strife had made me dreadfully weak.
Gradually my health improved, my spirits recovered, and I ceased to
despair. Once more was I enabled to crawl into the sunshine; but, oh,
how changed! Wan cheeks and hollow eyes, feeble limbs and almost
powerless hands plainly enough indicated that between me and death
there had indeed been but a step; and those who saw me might say as was
said of Dante, when he passed through the streets of France, "There's
the man that has been in hell."

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

(1817-1895)

THE SLAVE WHO STOLE FREEDOM

To Booker T. Washington, the teller of the tale which follows,
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation brought freedom when he was but
three years old. But Mr. Washington's struggles, first for an
education, later in behalf of his black brethren, have endowed him with
understanding and warm sympathy for Douglass, the man who, in his own
generation, preceded Washington as the foremost colored citizen of the
United States.

In later days, when the Underground Railway was in full operation, the
slave who ran away could be sure of aid and comfort at any one of its
many stations that he might find it possible to reach. But
Douglass--pioneer among these dark-skinned adventurers for
freedom--must needs rely almost wholly upon his own wit and courage in
making his escape.

From "Frederick Douglass," by Booker T. Washington. Copyright, 1906,
by George W. Jacobs & Company.

Frederick Douglass was born in the little town of Tuckahoe, in Talbot
County, on the eastern shore of Maryland, supposedly in the month of
February, 1817. . . .

Until he was seven years of age, young Fred felt few of the privations
of slavery. In these childhood days he probably was as happy and
carefree as the white children in the "big house." At liberty to