Frederick Douglass, the Orator - Monroe County Library System

Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County · Historic Monographs Collection
LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS. 263
Even the college of the wood pile, the place
of learning of so many self-made men, was denied
him. The kind mistress, in her innocence,
did give him instruction in the A, B, C's, but a
hard master was ever ready to give him the lash
upon his back. It is difficult to say which of
these did the young slave more good, but both
tended to make him the Frederick Douglass
whom we know. If you would know more about
this read the chapter in his book called ' My Last
Flogging.' Read the story of the two hours combat
of the seventeen-year-old boy with his white
master. Read the story of his final victory.
Those two hours, he says, were the turning point
in his life. At the end of that time he was still
a slave, but he was a free man in his soul.
" Now the hope of liberty began burning in
his breast. Then came his escape, and soon
after it came the speech at Nan tucket. Lord
Byron wrote a book, it is said, went to bed and
woke up famous. Frederick Douglass went to a
little island off the New England coast, made a
speech and sat down famous. From that time
his career of fame increased. You remember
him as an orator, for many of you heard the
marvel of his princely eloquence, clothed in the
poetical tones of him who was once a slave. It
was then that he lived a quiet life among you,
occasionally going away to deliver a lecture, and