that my sweetheart died suddenly. The night
before I was to leave, we were invited out to tea. He told me he had
bought a nice piece of poplar wood, with which to make a table for our
new home. When I told him my dream, he said, "Don't let that trouble
you, there is nothing in dreams." But one month from that day he died,
and his coffin was made from the piece of poplar wood he had bought
for the table.

After his death, I remained in Clayton for two or three weeks with my
people, and then went back to Eufaula, where I stayed two years.

My sweetheart's death made a profound impression on me, and I began to
pray as best I could. Often I remained all night on my knees.

Going on an excursion to Macon, Georgia, one time, I liked the place
so well that I did not go back to Eufaula. I got a place as cook in
the family of an Episcopal clergyman, and remained with them eight
years, leaving when the family moved to New Orleans.

During these eight years, my mother died in Clayton, and I had to take
the three smallest children into my care. My oldest sister was now
married, and had a son.

I now went to live with a Mrs. Maria Campbell, a colored woman, who
adopted me and gave me her name. Mrs. Campbell did washing and ironing
for her living. While living with her, I went six months to Lewis'
High School in Macon. Then I went to Atlanta, and obtained a place as
first-class cook with Mr. E. N. Inman. But I always considered Mrs.
Campbell's my home. I remained about a year with Mr. Inman, and
received as wages ten dollars a month.

One day, when the family were visiting in Memphis, I chanced to pick
up a newspaper, and read the advertisement of a Northern family for a
cook to go to Boston. I went at once to the address given, and made
agreement to take the place, but told the people that I could not
leave my present position until Mr. Inman returned home. Mr. and Mrs.
Inman did not want to let me go, but I made up my mind to go North.
The Northern family whose service I was to enter had returned to
Boston before I left, and had made arrangements with a friend, Mr.
Bullock, to see me safely started North.

After deciding to go North, I went to Macon, to make arrangements with
Mrs. Campbell for the care of my two sisters who lived with her. One
sister was now about thirteen and the other fifteen, both old enough
to do a little for themselves. My brother was dead. He went to
Brunswick in 1875, and died there of the yellow fev