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1054 READER RESPONSES, 1881-93

hood, and "came out with a profession of religion." Alas! his "conversion"
seemed to make him worse instead of better, for in truth it would appear that it
only turned Thomas Auld into a hypocrite. The slaves generally had very little
confidence in the piety of their masters, and such instances as this, which were
only too common, abundantly confirmed their scepticism. Any hopes that may
have been raised in Frederick Douglass's breast by news that his master had "got
through" were very speedily dashed to pieces: for there was a look upon his master's
face which seemed to say in answer to the slave lad's wistful glances. "I will
teach you, young man, that though I have parted with my sins, I have not parted
with my sense. I shall hold my slaves and go to heaven too." Although Thomas
Auld made great professions of piety, and hymns and prayers were constantly
heard in his house, his slave testifies. "If religion had any effect at all on him, it
made him more cruel and hateful in all his ways." There was no amelioration in
the lot of the poor creatures dependent upon him: "no more nor better meal
[86.2-6] stand on the camping ground." Notwithstanding the rule of the Methodist
Church that no holder of slaves should be admitted to memhership, no difficulty
seems to have been made on this score with "Master Thomas," and he was
advanced to a leading position in the Church, and welcomed the preachers who
visited the district to his table and his home.

Soon after Thomas Auld's "conversion," Frederick Douglass was invited to join
with one or two others in forming a Sunday-school of coloured children. He joyfully
fell in with the proposal; but on the occasion of the second meeting of the school,
just as the teachers had got to work, "in rushed a mob, headed by two class-leaders,
Mr. Wright Fairbanks and Mr. Garrison West, and with them Master Thomas. They
were armed with sticks and other missiles, and drove us off, commanding us never
to meet for such a purpose again." Another exemplification of the character of
Auld's religion was afforded hy his treatment of an unfortunate slave woman who
was lame, and who was consequently a burden to him. "I have seen him," says Mr.
Douglass, "tie up this lame and [87.39- 88.8] already raw with repeated blows."

We will not pursue this harrowing story into further detail. Through many terrible
experiences, and several narrow escapes with his life, the youth grew up to
manhood, a striking example of the victory which a strong nature is sometimes
capable of achieving over the most adverse circumstances. Not only did his physical
frame grow into manliness and vigour, but his intellectual life began to give signs of
its capacity of rich development, and his inborn love of liberty and hatred of oppression
became a burning fire which was to illuminate a noble career. At twenty-one
years of age he made his escape to the north, taking the train in the disguise of a
sailor. On the 4th of September, 1838, after an anxious and perilous journey, he
arrived in New York. With unconquerable perseverance, great sagacity, and through
many severe trials, he grappled with the diflicultics of his position, obtained an honest
livelihood, made many friends, and became one of the foremost and most powerful
advocates of the abolition movement. He has been permitted to see the