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〃Lady of the Lake；〃 and at once suggested that my
name be 〃Douglass。〃 From that time until now I
have been called 〃Frederick Douglass；〃 and as I am
more widely known by that name than by either of
the others； I shall continue to use it as my own。
I was quite disappointed at the general appear…
ance of things in New Bedford。 The impression
which I had received respecting the character and
condition of the people of the north； I found to be
singularly erroneous。 I had very strangely supposed；
while in slavery； that few of the comforts； and
scarcely any of the luxuries； of life were enjoyed at
the north； compared with what were enjoyed by the
slaveholders of the south。 I probably came to this
conclusion from the fact that northern people owned
no slaves。 I supposed that they were about upon a
level with the non…slaveholding population of the
south。 I knew ~they~ were exceedingly poor； and I had
been accustomed to regard their poverty as the nec…
essary consequence of their being non…slaveholders。
I had somehow imbibed the opinion that； in the
absence of slaves； there could be no wealth； and very
little refinement。 And upon coming to the north； I
expected to meet with a rough； hard…handed； and
uncultivated population； living in the most Spartan…
like simplicity； knowing nothing of the ease； luxury；
pomp； and grandeur of southern slaveholders。 Such
being my conjectures； any one acquainted with the
appearance of New Bedford may very readily infer
how palpably I must have seen my mistake。
In the afternoon of the day when I reached New
Bedford； I visited the wharves； to take a view of the
shipping。 Here I found myself surrounded with the
strongest proofs of wealth。 Lying at the wharves； and
riding in the stream； I saw many ships of the finest
model； in the best order； and of the largest size。
Upon the right and left； I was walled in by granite
warehouses of the widest dimensions； stowed to their
utmost capacity with the necessaries and comforts
of life。 Added to this； almost every body seemed to
be at work； but noiselessly so； compared with what
I had been accustomed to in Baltimore。 There were
no loud songs heard from those engaged in loading
and unloading ships。 I heard no deep oaths or horrid
curses on the laborer。 I saw no whipping of men；
but all seemed to go smoothly on。 Every man ap…
peared to understand his work； and went at it with
a sober； yet cheerful earnestness； which betokened
the deep interest which he felt in what he was doing；
as well as a sense of his own dignity as a man。 To me
this looked exceedingly strange。 From the wharves I
strolled around and over the town； gazing with won…
der and admiration at the splendid churches； beauti…
ful dwellings； and finely…cultivated gardens； evincing
an amount of wealth； comfort； taste； and refinement；
such as I had never seen in any part of slaveholding
Maryland。
Every thing looked clean； new； and beautiful。 I
saw few or no dilapidated houses； with poverty…
stricken inmates； no half…naked children and bare…
footed women； such as I had been accustomed to see
in Hillsborough； Easton； St。 Michael's； and Balti…
more。 The people looked more able； stronger； health…
ier； and happier； than those of Maryland。 I was for
once made glad by a view of extreme wealth； without
being saddened by seeing extreme poverty。 But the
most astonishing as well as the most interesting thing
to me was the condition of the colored people； a
great many of whom； like myself； had escaped
thither as a refuge from the hunters of men。 I found
many； who had not been seven years out of their
chains； living in finer houses； and evidently enjoying
more of the comforts of life； than the average of
slaveholders in Maryland。 I will venture to assert；
that my friend Mr。 Nathan Johnson （of whom I
can say with a grateful heart； 〃I was hungry； and he
gave me meat； I was thirsty； and he gave me drink；
I was a stranger； and he took me in〃） lived in a
neater house； dined at a better table； took； paid
for； and read； more newspapers； better understood
the moral； religious； and political character of the
nation；than nine tenths of the slaveholders in Tal…
bot county Maryland。 Yet Mr。 Johnson was a work…
ing man。 His hands were hardened by toil； and not
his alone； but those also of Mrs。 Johnson。 I found the
colored people much more spirited than I had sup…
posed they would be。 I found among them a deter…
mination to protect each other from the blood…thirsty
kidnapper； at all hazards。 Soon after my arrival； I
was told of a circumstance which illustrated their
spirit。 A colored man and a fugitive slave were on
unfriendly terms。 The former was heard to threaten
the latter with informing his master of his where…
abouts。 Straightway a meeting was called among the
colored people； under the stereotyped notice； 〃Busi…
ness of importance！〃 The betrayer was invited to at…
tend。 The people came at the appointed hour； and
organized the meeting by appointing a very religious
old gentleman as president； who； I believe； made a
prayer； after which he addressed the meeting as fol…
lows： 〃~Friends； we have got him here； and I would
recommend that you young men just take him out…
side the door； and kill him！~〃 With this； a number
of them bolted at him； but they were intercepted
by some more timid than themselves； and the be…
trayer escaped their vengeance； and has not been
seen in New Bedford since。 I believe there have
been no more such threats； and should there be here…
after； I doubt not that death would be the conse…
quence。
I found employment； the third day after my ar…
rival； in stowing a sloop with a load of oil。 It was
new； dirty； and hard work for me； but I went at it
with a glad heart and a willing hand。 I was now my
own master。 It was a happy moment； the rapture of
which can be understood only by those who have
been slaves。 It was the first work； the reward of
which was to be entirely my own。 There was no Mas…
ter Hugh standing ready； the moment I earned the
money； to rob me of it。 I worked that day with a
pleasure I had never before experienced。 I was at
work for myself and newly…married wife。 It was to me
the starting…point of a new existence。 When I got
through with that job； I went in pursuit of a job of
calking； but such was the strength of prejudice
against color； among the white calkers； that they re…
fused to work with me； and of course I could get no
employment。* Finding my trade of no immediate
benefit； I threw off my calking habiliments； and pre…
pared myself to do any kind of work I could get to
do。 Mr。 Johnson kindly let me have his wood…horse
and saw； and I very soon found myself a plenty of
work。 There was no work too hardnone too dirty。
I was ready to saw wood； shovel coal； carry wood；
sweep the chimney； or roll oil casks；all of which I
* I am told that colored persons can now get employment
at calking in New Bedforda result of anti…slavery effort。
did for nearly three years in New Bedford； before I
became known to the anti…slavery world。
In about four months after I went to New Bed…
ford； there came a young man to me； and inquired
if I did not wish to take the 〃Liberator。〃 I told him
I did； but； just having made my escape from slavery；
I remarked that I was unable to pay for it then。 I；
however； finally became a subscriber to it。 The paper
came； and I read it from week to week with such
feelings as it would be quite idle for me to attempt
to describe。 The paper became my meat and my
drink。 My soul was set all on fire。 Its sympathy for
my brethren in bondsits scathing denunciations of
slaveholdersits faithful exposures of slaveryand its
powerful attacks upon the upholders of the institu…
tionsent a thrill of joy through my soul； such as
I had never felt before！
I had not long been a reader of the 〃Liberator；〃
before I got a pretty correct idea of the principles；
measures and spirit of the anti…slavery reform。 I took
right hold of the cause。 I could do but little； but
what I could； I did with a joyful heart； and never felt
happier than when in an anti…slavery meeting。 I sel…
dom had much to say at the meetings； because what
I wanted to say was said so much better by others。
But； while attending an anti…slavery convention at
Nantucket； on the 11th of August； 1841； I felt
strongly moved to speak； and was at the same time
much urged to do so by Mr。 William C。 Coffin； a
gentleman who had heard me speak in the colored
people's meeting at New Bedford。 It was a severe
cross； and I took it up reluctantly。 The truth was；
I felt myself a slave； and the idea of speaking to
white people weighed me down。 I spoke but a few
moments； when I felt a degree of freedom； and said
what I desired with considerable ease。 From that
time u