“I cannot understand how such things be!” he said, shaking his head. The women had gone inside. Lights shone in the cottage across the way, and on the other side of the white picket fence a girl laughed. Frederick stood up. Even in the dusk, Johnson was conscious of the broad shoulders and the long, lithe limbs. He was looking up at the trees. “Almost--Almost I am afraid,” Frederick said. “Afraid? Now? Your time to be afraid is gone. Now you are safe!” “That’s it! _I_ am safe. I’m afraid of so much happiness.” “A mite o’ happiness won’t spoil you, my boy. There’s strength in you. And now I reckon your wife is waiting.” Nathan Johnson stood up. Inside the house Frederick turned and clasped the hand of his host. “How can I thank you?” he asked. The older man smiled. “Fine words ain’t needed, son. The two of you are good for Ma and me. Now go ’long with you!” And he sent him to Anna. They were awakened by church bells. Then they heard the children getting off to church. Anna started up guiltily. Perhaps they were delaying Mrs. Johnson. But over the house lay a sweet Sabbath calm; it ran all up and down the street--and over all New Bedford. The day passed in unhurried discussion of jobs and plans for the young folks. Now indeed Frederick must have a name. “Some take the name of their old master.” “I won’t.” Frederick spoke emphatically. “Ay,” agreed Nathan. “No sense in tying a stone round your children’s necks. Give ’em a good name.” He grinned at Frederick and Anna. “When I look at you I think of somebody I read about--fellow by the name of Douglass.” “You want to name him from a book, Pa?” His wife laughed. “Why not? He’s already got a heap out of books. And this Scotchman, Douglass, was a fine man. The book says he had a ‘stalwart hand’.” Then Nathan launched into a vivid description of Scotland as he had seen it. He came back to the name. “Ay, Douglass is a bonny name.” Anna spoke softly. “Frederick Douglass--It has a good, strong sound.” “You like it, Anna?” Frederick’s eyes drew her to him. And Anna smiled, nodding her head. So Douglass was the name he passed on to their children. The next day he went down to the wharves and caught his first view of New England shipping.