The time that I was permitted to attend school during the day was
short, and my attendance was irregular. It was not long before I
had to stop attending day-school altogether, and devote all of my
time again to work. I resorted to the night-school again. In
fact, the greater part of the education I secured in my boyhood
was gathered through the night-school after my day's work was
done. I had difficulty often in securing a satisfactory teacher.
Sometimes, after I had secured some one to teach me at night, I
would find, much to my disappointment, that the teacher knew but
little more than I did. Often I would have to walk several miles
at night in order to recite my night-school lessons. There was
never a time in my youth, no matter how dark and discouraging the
days might be, when one resolve did not continually remain with
me, and that was a determination to secure an education at any
cost.
Soon after we moved to West Virginia, my mother adopted into our
family, notwithstanding our poverty, an orphan boy, to whom
afterward we gave the name of James B. Washington. He has ever
since remained a member of the family.
After I had worked in the salt-furnace for some time, work was
secured for me in a coal-mine which was operated mainly for the
purpose of securing fuel for the salt-furnace.
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