Over the TeacupsRaised as a plantation slave who was taught to read and write by one of his owners, Frederick Douglass became a brilliant writer, eloquent orator, and major participant in the stuggle of African-Americans for freedom and equality. In this engrossing, first-hand narrative originally published in 1845, he vividly recounts early years of physical abuse, deprivation and tragedy; his dramatic escape to the North and eventual freedom, abolitionist campaigns, and crusade for full civil rights for former slaves. A powerful autobiography of a passionate civil rights advocate, this book will be of value to anyone interested in African-American history. |
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Page 20
... look in at his windows, and all his entrances are at the mercy of the critic's skeleton key and the jimmy of any ill-disposed assailant ! The company have been silent listeners for the most part ; but the reader will have a chance to ...
... look in at his windows, and all his entrances are at the mercy of the critic's skeleton key and the jimmy of any ill-disposed assailant ! The company have been silent listeners for the most part ; but the reader will have a chance to ...
Page 22
... could depend on a kind welcome from my contemporaries, — my coevals. But where are those contemporaries ? Ay de mi ! as Carlyle used to exclaim, — Ah, dear me ! as our old women say, — I look round for them, and see 22 OVER THE TEACUPS.
... could depend on a kind welcome from my contemporaries, — my coevals. But where are those contemporaries ? Ay de mi ! as Carlyle used to exclaim, — Ah, dear me ! as our old women say, — I look round for them, and see 22 OVER THE TEACUPS.
Page 23
Oliver Wendell Holmes. women say, — I look round for them, and see only their vacant places. The old vine cannot unwind its tendrils. The branch falls with the decay of its support, and must cling to the new growths around it, if it ...
Oliver Wendell Holmes. women say, — I look round for them, and see only their vacant places. The old vine cannot unwind its tendrils. The branch falls with the decay of its support, and must cling to the new growths around it, if it ...
Page 30
... looks like apathy. Time, the inexorable, does not threaten him with the scythe so often as with the sand-bag. He does not cut, but he stuns and stupefies. One's fellow-mortals can afford to be as considerate and tender with him as Time ...
... looks like apathy. Time, the inexorable, does not threaten him with the scythe so often as with the sand-bag. He does not cut, but he stuns and stupefies. One's fellow-mortals can afford to be as considerate and tender with him as Time ...
Page 33
... look almost as well as if they had the plus sign before them. I am afraid that old people found life rather a dull business in the time of King David and his rich old subject and friend, Barzillai, who, poor man, could not have read a ...
... look almost as well as if they had the plus sign before them. I am afraid that old people found life rather a dull business in the time of King David and his rich old subject and friend, Barzillai, who, poor man, could not have read a ...
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Common terms and phrases
American Annexes answer aurist beautiful believe called centenarian conversation Counsellor curious deal Delilah doubt English English elms expect eyes fact fancy feel Five's Giordano Bruno girl give hand hear heard heart Henry Flynt human idea interest James Freeman Clarke Jephunneh Jonathan Edwards keep kind ladies letters listened literary live look mean mind Mistress natural never Number Five Number Seven obelisk once paper perhaps persons Phi Beta Kappa pleasant pleased poem poet poetry poor pretty Professor question reader remember rhymes round Saturnians seems sometimes speak specialist squinting brain story suppose sure talk tea-table Teacups teetotal tell things thou thought Timothy Dexter tion told Tutor verse voice William Cullen Bryant wish witches women wonder words write young Doctor
Popular passages
Page 131 - Still, thro' the rattle, parts of speech were rife: While he could stammer He settled Hoti's business - let it be! Properly based Oun Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic De, Dead from the waist down.
Page 24 - I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
Page 247 - He was expected to be called to account for Adam's sin. It is singular to notice that the reasoning of the wolf with the lamb should be transferred to the dealings of the Creator with his creatures. " You stirred the brook up and made my drinking-place muddy." " But, please your wolfship, I could n't do that, for I stirred the water far down the stream, — below your drinking-place." " Well, anyhow, your father troubled it a year or two ago, and that is the same thing." So the wolf falls upon the...
Page 297 - Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss Though winning near the goal — yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Page 139 - Thus with the year Seasons return ; but not to me returns Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, Or flucks, or herds, or human face divine...
Page 154 - What you will. I will talk of things heavenly, or things earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or things at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial; provided that all be done to our profit.
Page 23 - And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness ; and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me ; as my strength was then, even ao is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Page 46 - Were tears of light, the dew of gladness. Yet, sometimes, when the secret cup Of still and serious thought went round, It seemed as if he drank it up — He felt with spirit so profound.
Page 175 - Yet, while my Hector still survives, I see My father, mother, brethren, all in thee : Alas ! my parents, brothers, kindred, all Once more will perish, if my Hector fall. Thy wife, thy infant, in thy danger share : Oh ! prove a husband's and a father's care! That quarter most the skilful Greeks annoy, Where yon wild fig-trees join the wall of Troy : Thou from this tower defend th...
Page 36 - TERMINUS It is time to be old, To take in sail: — The god of bounds, Who sets to seas a shore, Came to me in his fatal rounds, And said: "No more! No farther shoot Thy broad ambitious branches, and thy root. Fancy departs: no more invent; Contract thy firmament To compass of a tent.