constitutes one of the large number of witnesses that we are ready to place upon the stand in defense of Afro-American capabilities and success with which we challenge the civilized world to produce a parallel.
CHAPTER II.
MRS. FRANCES ELLEN WATKINS HARPER.
In presenting this very condensed narrative of the life and works of Mrs. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper the writer makes no pretensions to a development of any new facts not already known to the reading public, but simply tells the old, old facts that seem each time that they are told more "wonderfully sweet" because of the underlying forces of real inspiration which the simple story of her life contains. This wonderful woman was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., in 1825. Her parents were not slaves, and yet she was subjected to the inconveniences and ill influences of the slave law, which held within its grasp both bond and free. Before her third year the dearest of all friends—mother—had been taken from her by death; being the only child, she came under the watch-care of an aunt who cared for her during her earlier years and sent her to school to an uncle. Rev. William Watkins, until she was thirteen years old. After this the burden of earning her own bread was laid upon her own shoulders; certainly a very heavy burden
