In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, what was the effect of Douglass observing ship carpenters marking pieces of timber?

Douglass noticed the letters ship carpenters marked on pieces of timber, such as “S” for starboard and “L” for larboard. Seeing how writing could label and identify things strengthened his desire to learn to write, so he began practicing letters. The observation inspired him to teach himself to write.

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