is ship seemed to be unloading a cargo of pig iron. I went at
once to the vessel and asked the captain to permit me to help unload
the vessel in order to get money for food. The captain, a white man,
who seemed to be kind-hearted, consented. I worked long enough to earn
money for my breakfast, and it seems to me, as I remember it now, to
have been about the best breakfast that I have ever eaten.

My work pleased the captain so well that he told me if I desired I
could continue working for a small amount per day. This I was very
glad to do. I continued working on this vessel for a number of days.
After buying food with the small wages I received there was not much
left to add to the amount I must get to pay my way to Hampton. In
order to economize in every way possible, so as to be sure to reach
Hampton in a reasonable time, I continued to sleep under the same
sidewalk that gave me shelter the first night I was in Richmond. . . .

When I had saved what I considered enough money with which to reach
Hampton, I thanked the captain of the vessel for his kindness, and
started again. Without any unusual occurrence I reached Hampton, with
a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin my education, To
me it had been a long, eventful journey; but the first sight of the
large, three-story brick school building seemed to have rewarded me for
all that I had undergone in order to reach the place. . . .

It seemed to me to be the largest and most beautiful building I had
ever seen. The sight of it seemed to give me new life. I felt that a
new kind of existence had now begun--that life would now have a new
meaning. I felt that I had reached the promised land, and I resolved
to let no obstacle prevent me from putting forth the highest effort to
fit myself to accomplish the most good in the world.

As soon as possible after reaching the grounds of the Hampton Institute
I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class.
Having been so long without proper food, a bath, and change of
clothing, I did not, of course, make a very favourable impression upon
her, and I could see at once that there were doubts in her mind about
the wisdom of admitting me as a student. I felt that I could hardly
blame her if she got the idea that I was a worthless loafer or tramp.
For some time she did not refuse to admit me, neither did she decide in
my favour, and I continued to linger about her, and to impress her in
all