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. If the people who gave the
money to provide that building could appreciate the influence the
sight of it had upon me, as well as upon thousands of other
youths, they would feel all the more encouraged to make such
gifts. 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 an
assignment to a class. Having been so long without proper food, a
bath, and a 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.
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