cruelties   inflicted  upon  himself,   despite  the  fact  that  slaveholders claimed  in the  local  newspaper that....
..."there was no portion of the entire South where slaves met with more humane treatment than upon the  Eastern  Shore  of Maryland,  and there  existed between master and  slave  that feeling of mutual confidence which is always to be found in those communities where  the  evil  influence of abolition or its emissaries  does  not make  itself felt."48
Unlike Harriet Tubman,  Douglass was without the benefit of a family structure to encourage him and sustain his spirit.     Douglass was  however fortunate by having been  selected to  accompany his second master's  child to Baltimore  as  a playmate  and  servant,49 which opened up an entirely different world to him.    The first time that Frederick had slept in a bed, ate at a table, and had a proper supper, was at Fells Point (Baltimore).    Frederick also had the opportunity to achieve the unthinkable for a slave - to learn to read and write, which was prohibited by law.    Nevertheless, the mere rudiments  were  all  that Frederick needed,  as  he took  those opportunities  to  learn.     He  understood  that  knowledge  was  power and he used that knowledge to help himself and others.    He experienced the hardships of being  appraised upon the  death of his master, in the same manner, and was of lesser value and with even