14                     THE REVIEW




                           II

        PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS OF  FREDERICK
                      DOUGLASS.


    In the days of my bondage, a slave boy in Baltimore, I
heard a great deal of the rare powers and qualities of Freder-
ick Douglass, hence, craved to see him. Having left Balti-
more in 1859 for New Bedford, Mass., in search of freedom,
and learning, among other things, I had a fondness for essay
writing.  Sitting indoors one morning, at the home  of my
father, trying my hand on an essay, I heard my stepmother
in the yard exclaim, "Why, how d'ye do, Mr. Douglass." A
long-desired opportunity brought me to my feet and out in
the yard, where I beheld that splendid figure with princely
bearing, standing, expressing his delights at the variety and
beauties of the choice flowers.
    "John is writing an essay on 'Woman,'" said mother, after
an introduction.
    "There is something very thrilling in the subject, wo-
man," replied Mr. Douglass, with a deep pathos, and a rich-
ness of voice that at once attracted me and deepened the con-
victions that a real man and an orator stood before me.
    Mr. Douglass had a voice and a manner of expression
that gave freshness and a rich significance to the commonest
things.  When any of the great questions involving his coun-
try's interest, or his people's welfare had been spoken upon




			

African Methodist Episcopal Church Review, Vol. 23, Num. 1

Personal Recollections of Frederick Douglass

T.

Volume:  23
Issue Number:  01
Page Number:  14
Date:  07/1906