Frederick was sent to Baltimore, at around the age of eight, to join the family of Hugh Auld thus leaving behind the fear and dread of the plantation.
 
It was at first a revelation to be living in a fledging and lively coastal City as well as initially being treated kindly by Hughs wife Sophia Auld.
 
He was to attend to the needs of their young son of the same age and Sophia begins to teach him the A,B,C…until Mr. Auld finds out forbids her to do so.
 
There had been a number of Slave rebellions in the south as well as in the Caribbean that had instilled a dread in the hearts of plantation owners who quickly devised since the 1800’s their own State Laws prohibiting the teaching to read of the enslaved.
 
During Fredericks time, as a result of Nat Turners rebellion in Virgina in 1831 which resulted in much bloodshed of plantation personnel and the enslaved in retribution and retaliation, these Laws were revised and toughened.
 
This was due largely to the fact that Nat could read well so any slave that could read was to befeared.
 
Frederick realises how powerful being able to read is and so a deep desire to learn rises up within him. In the back ground a train passed by which symbolises the Underground Railroad that he would eventually becomes inextricably associated with.