As to my own treatment while I lived on Colonel Lloyd's plantation, it was very similar
to that of the other slave children. I was not old enough to work in the field, and there
being little else than field work to do, I had a great deal of leisure time. The most I had to
do was to drive up the cows at evening, keep the fowls out of the garden, keep the front
yard clean, and run of errands for my old master's daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Auld. The
most of my leisure time I spent in helping Master Daniel Lloyd in finding his birds, after
he had shot them. My connection with Master Daniel was of some advantage to me. He
became quite attached to me, and was a sort of protector of me. He would not allow the
older boys to impose upon me, and would divide his cakes with me.
I was seldom whipped by my old master, and suffered little from any thing else than
hunger and cold. I suffered much from hunger, but much more from cold. In hottest
summer and coldest winter, I was kept almost naked--no shoes, no stockings, no jacket,
no trousers, nothing on but a coarse tow linen shirt, reaching only to my knees. I had no
bed. I must have perished with cold, but that, the coldest nights, I used to steal a bag
which was used for carrying corn to the mill. I would crawl into this bag, and there sleep
on the cold, damp, clay floor, with my head in and feet out. My feet have been so cracked
with the frost, that the pen with which I am writing might be laid in the gashes.
We were not regularly allowanced. Our food was coarse corn meal boiled. This was
called MUSH. It was put into a large wooden tray or trough, and set down upon the
ground. The children were then called, like so many pigs, and like so many pigs they
would come and devour the mush; some with oystershells, others with pieces of shingle,
some with naked hands, and none with spoons. He that ate fastest got most; he that was
strongest secured the best place; and few left the trough satisfied.
I was probably between seven and eight years old when I left Colonel Lloyd's
plantation. I left it with joy. I shall never forget the ecstasy with which I received the
intelligence that my old master (Anthony) had determined to let me go to Baltimore, to
live with Mr. Hugh Auld, brother to my old master's son-in-law, Captain Thomas Auld. I
received this information about three days before my departure. They were three of the
happiest days I ever enjoyed. I spent the most part of all these three days in the creek,
washing off the plantation scurf, and preparing myself for my departure.
The pride of appearance which this would indicate was not my own. I spent the time in
washing, not so much because I wished to, but because Mrs. Lucretia had told me I must
get all the dead skin off my feet and knees before I could go to Baltimore; for the people
in Baltimore were very cleanly, and would laugh at me if I looked dirty. Besides, she was
going to give me a pair of trousers, which I should not put on unless I got all the dirt off
me. The thought of owning a pair of trousers was great indeed! It was almost a sufficient
motive, not only to make me take off what would be called by pigdrovers the mange, but
