At the Aulds’ he is greeted by the kindly face of Mrs. The ship reaches Baltimore on Sunday morning, and Douglass arrives at his new home. Douglass recalls being thoroughly impressed by its size, though in retrospect Annapolis now seems small compared to Northern industrial cities. The ship docks at Annapolis first, briefly. He then sets his sights ahead in the distance. He looks once back on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation, hoping it will be the last time he sees it. Douglass’s cousin Tom describes to Douglass the impressive beauty of the city.ĭouglass sails on the river to Baltimore on a Saturday morning. Additionally, Baltimore seems to be a place of promise. He also feels he has nothing to lose, because even if his new home in Baltimore is full of hardship, it can be no worse than the hardships he has already seen and endured on the plantation. Douglass is not sad to leave the plantation, as he has no family ties or sense of home, like children usually have. He cleans himself thoroughly and is rewarded with his first pair of trousers from Lucretia Auld, Captain Anthony’s daughter. For three days, Douglass happily prepares to leave Colonel Lloyd’s plantation. Children eat corn mush out of a communal trough, so only the strongest children get enough to eat.Īt the age of seven or eight, Douglass is selected to go to Baltimore to live with Captain Anthony’s son‑in‑law’s brother, Hugh Auld. The cold of the winters so harms Douglass’s feet that he could insert the pen he now writes with into the cracks of his flesh. Enslaved children are given no other clothing but a long linen shirt. Daniel eventually becomes attached to Douglass, which is to Douglass’s advantage. Douglass often accompanies the Colonel’s grandson, Daniel, as a servant on hunting expeditions. He has some free time outside his regular tasks. Douglass does not work in the fields as a child because children are not strong enough.

Frederick douglass narrative sparknotes