CHAPTER X.✦

LEARNING TO READ.

City annoyances--Plantation regrets--My mistress--Her history-- Her kindness--My master--His sourness--My comforts--Increased sensitiveness--My occupation--Learning to read--Baneful effects of slaveholding on my dear, good mistress--Mr. Hugh forbids Mrs. Sophia to teach me further--Clouds gather on my bright prospects--Master Auld’s exposition of the Philosophy of Slavery--City slaves--Country slaves--Contrasts--Exceptions-- Mr. Hamilton’s two slaves--Mrs. Hamilton’s cruel treatment of them--Piteous aspect presented by them--No power to come between the slave and slaveholder 85

CHAPTER XI.✦

GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE.

My mistress--Her slaveholding duties--Their effects on her originally noble nature--The conflict in her mind--She opposes my learning to read--Too late--She had given me the “inch,” I was resolved to take the “ell”--How I pursued my study to read-- My tutors--What progress I made--Slavery--What I heard said about it--Thirteen years old--Columbian orator--Dialogue-- Speeches--Sheridan--Pitt--Lords Chatham and Fox--Knowledge increasing--Liberty--Singing--Sadness--Unhappiness of Mrs. Sophia--My hatred of slavery--One Upas tree overshadows us all 92

CHAPTER XII.✦

RELIGIOUS NATURE AWAKENED.

Abolitionists spoken of--Eagerness to know the meaning of the word--Consults the dictionary--Incendiary information--The enigma solved--“Nat Turner” insurrection--Cholera--Religion-- Methodist Minister--Religious impressions--Father Lawson--His character and occupation--His influence over me--Our mutual attachment--New hopes and aspirations--Heavenly light--Two Irishmen on wharf--Conversation with them--Learning to write-- My aims 100