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  FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS;

  OR,

  THE LIFE OF AN
  AMERICAN SLAVE.


      "My God! can such things be?
  Hast Thou not said that whatsoe'er is done
  Unto thy weakest and thy humblest one,
      Is even done to Thee?"--WHITTIER.


  New-York
  H. DAYTON, PUBLISHER
  36 HOWARD STREET.
  Indianapolis, Ind.:--Asher & Company.
  1860.


  Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1858, by
                         H. DAYTON,
  in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States
             for the Southern District of New York.


  J. J. REED,
  PRINTER & STEREOTYPER,
  43 Centre-St., N. Y.




PREFACE.


The story which follows is _true_ in every particular. Responsible
citizens of a neighboring State can vouch for the reality of the
narrative. The language of the slave has not at all times been strictly
adhered to, as a half century of bondage unfitted him for literary work.
The subject of the story _is still a slave_ by the laws of this country,
and it would not be wise to reveal his name.




FIFTY YEARS IN CHAINS

OR,

THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN SLAVE.




CHAPTER