doesn't know for sure of his age, he has seen no proof and his master will not inform him.Most masters prefer for their slaves to stay ignorant. He believes that he was aroundtwenty-seven and twenty-eight when he began writing his narrative - he overheard hismaster say he was about seventeen years of age during 1835. His mother, Harriet Bailey,was separated from him when he wasaninfant and she died when he was seven years old.Frederick's father was awhite man who could have been his master but he never foundout.

Education was of utmost importance in his life. He received his first lesson whileliving with Mr. and Mrs. Auld. Sophia Auld, Frederick's "mistress",was very humane tohim and spent time teaching him the A,B, C's. After he mastered this, she assisted him inspelling three and fourletter words. At this point in his lesson Mr. Auld encountered whathis wifewas doing for Frederick and forbid her to continue. He believed that "ifyou give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell" and continuing with "learning would spoil the bestnigger in the world". The masters felt that an ignorant slave formed a choice slave andany beneficial learning would damage the

slave and therefore be futile to his master.

Slaves, when unhappy, sing songs to help drown their sorrow. Frederick wouldoften sing for this purpose, and not to express his happiness as some slaves also do. Themen and women slaves received eight pounds of pork or fish and one bushel of corn mealmonthly. On a yearly basis, they received very little along the lines of clothing. Thechildren unable to work in the field were given two shirts per year. If they happen to wearout, the children would have to go naked until the next year. No beds were supplied, only

oxen before and was required to take them out to the woods by Mr. Covey. He wreckedthe oxen, the cart, and nearly his life on his journey. Upon arrival, Mr. Covey orderedFrederick to return to the forest as to show him the correct way to handle oxen.Surprisingly Mr. Covey ordered Frederick to remove his clothes. Frederick refused to doso, and therefore this is where his first of many whippings came from.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Covey Frederick, Colonel Lloyd, Anthony Frederick's, AB C's, Frederickdevoted Sundays, Master Thomas, Whenhe Frederick, Tuckahoe Maryland, Harriet Baileywas, Spelling Book, master thomas, covey frederick,
Approximate Word count = 1271
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)