No one seemed to think of himself. And the officers and
teachers, what a rare set of human beings they were! They worked
for the students night and day, in seasons and out of season.
They seemed happy only when they were helping the students in
some manner. Whenever it is written--and I hope it will be--the
part that the Yankee teachers played in the education of the
Negroes immediately after the war will make one of the most
thrilling parts of the history off this country. The time is not
far distant when the whole South will appreciate this service in
a way that it has not yet been able to do.
Chapter IV. Helping Others
At the end of my first year at Hampton I was confronted with
another difficulty. Most of the students went home to spend their
vacation. I had no money with which to go home, but I had to go
somewhere. In those days very few students were permitted to
remain at the school during vacation. It made me feel very sad
and homesick to see the other students preparing to leave and
starting for home. I not only had no money with which to go home,
but I had none with which to go anywhere.
In some way, however, I had gotten hold of an extra, second-hand
coat which I thought was a pretty valuable coat. This I decided
to sell, in order to get a little money for travelling expenses.
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