Mr.
Collins used to say, when introducing me, _"with my diploma written
on my back!"_ The three years of my freedom had been spent in the
hard school of adversity. My hands had been furnished by nature with
something like a solid leather coating, and I had bravely marked out for
myself a life of rough labor, suited to the hardness of my hands, as a
means of supporting myself and rearing my children.

Now what shall I say of this fourteen years' experience as a public
advocate of the cause of my enslaved brothers and sisters? The time
is but as a speck, yet large enough to justify a pause for
retrospection--and a pause it must only be.

Young, ardent, and hopeful, I entered upon this new life in the full
gush of unsuspecting enthusiasm. The cause was good; the men engaged in
it were good; the means to attain its triumph, good; Heaven's blessing
must attend all, and freedom must soon be given to the pining millions
under a ruthless bondage. My whole heart went with the holy cause, and
my most fervent prayer to the Almighty Disposer of the hearts of men,
were continually offered for its early triumph. "Who or what," thought
I, "can withstand a cause so good, so holy, so indescribably glorious.
The God of Israel is with us. The might of the Eternal is on our side.
Now let but the truth be spoken, and a nation will start forth at
the sound!" In this enthusiastic spirit, I dropped into the ranks of
freedom's friends, and went forth to the battle. For a time I was
made to forget that my skin was dark and my hair crisped. For a time I
regretted that I could not have shared the hardships and dangers endured
by the earlier workers for the slave's release. I soon, however, found
that my enthusiasm had been extravagant; that hardships and dangers were
not yet passed; and that the life now before me, had shadows as well as
sunbeams.

Among the first duties assigned me, on entering the ranks, was to
travel, in company with Mr. George Foster, to secure subscribers to
the _Anti-slavery Standard_ and the _Liberator_. With{281 MATTER OF
THE SPEECH} him I traveled and lectured through the eastern counties
of Massachusetts. Much interest was awakened--large meetings assembled.
Many came, no doubt, from curiosity to hear what a Negro
could say in his own cause. I was generally introduced as a
_"chattel"--_a_"thing"_--a piece of southern _"property"_--the chairman
assuring the audience that _it_ could speak. Fugitive slaves, at that
tim