Childhood

The New Master And Mistress

The Slaves’ New Year’s Day

The Slave Who Dared To Feel Like A Man

The Trials Of Girlhood

The Jealous Mistress

The Lover

What Slaves Are Taught To Think Of The North

Sketches Of Neighboring Slaveholders

A Perilous Passage In The Slave Girl’s Life

The New Tie To Life

Fear Of Insurrection

The Church And Slavery

Another Link To Life

Continued Persecutions

Scenes At The Plantation

The Flight

Months Of Peril

The Children Sold

New Perils

The Loophole Of Retreat

Christmas Festivities

Still In Prison

The Candidate For Congress

Competition In Cunning

Important Era In My Brother’s Life

New Destination For The Children

Aunt Nancy

Preparations For Escape

Northward Bound

Incidents In Philadelphia

The Meeting Of Mother And Daughter

A Home Found

The Old Enemy Again

Prejudice Against Color

The Hairbreadth Escape

A Visit To England

Renewed Invitations To Go South

The Confession

The Fugitive Slave Law

Free At Last

Appendix

Selected Bibliography

Incidents

in the

Life of A Slave Girl,

Seven Years Concealed.

* * * * *

I. Childhood

I was born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away.  My father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skilful in his trade, that, when buildings out of the common line were to be erected, he was sent for from long distances, to be head workman.  On condition of paying his mistress two hundred dollars a year, and supporting himself, he was allowed to work at his trade, and manage his own affairs.  His strongest wish was to purchase his children; but, though he several times offered his hard earnings for that purpose, he never succeeded.  In complexion my parents were a light shade of brownish yellow, and were termed mulattoes.  They lived together in a comfortable home; and, though we were all slaves, I was so fondly shielded that I never dreamed I was a piece of merchandise, trusted to them for safe keeping, and liable to be demanded of them at any moment.  I had one brother, William, who was two years younger than myself—­a bright, affectionate child.  I had also a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable woman in many respects.  She was the daughter of a planter in South Carolina, who, at his death,