Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895)

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

1845

"My soul was set all on fire."

In about four months after I went to New Bedford, there came a young man to me, and inquired if I did not wish to take the "Liberator." I told him I did; but, just having made my escape from slavery, I remarked that I was unable to pay for it then. I, however, finally became a subscriber to it. The paper came, and I read it from week to week with such feelings as it would be quite idle for me to attempt to describe. The paper became my meat and my drink. My soul was set all on fire. Its sympathy for my brethren in bonds--its scathing denunciations of slaveholders — its faithful exposures of slavery--and its powerful attacks upon the upholders of the institution--sent a thrill of joy through my soul, such as I had never felt before!
(p. 114)

Fire

Searching at UVa E-text Center

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1963).

11/01/2011