Sometimes we had food cooked for us, and sometimes we did not. I
remember that more than once a can of tomatoes and some crackers
constituted a meal. Our clothing went uncared for, and everything
about our home was soon in a tumble-down condition. It seems to
me that this was the most dismal period of my life.
My good friend, Mrs. Ruffner, to whom I have already referred,
always made me welcome at her home, and assisted me in many ways
during this trying period. Before the end of the vacation she
gave me some work, and this, together with work in a coal-mine at
some distance from my home, enabled me to earn a little money.
At one time it looked as if I would have to give up the idea of
returning to Hampton, but my heart was so set on returning that I
determined not to give up going back without a struggle. I was
very anxious to secure some clothes for the winter, but in this I
was disappointed, except for a few garments which my brother John
secured for me. Notwithstanding my need of money and clothing, I
was very happy in the fact that I had secured enough money to pay
my travelling expenses back to Hampton. Once there, I knew that I
could make myself so useful as a janitor that I could in some way
get through the school year.
Three weeks before the time for the opening of the term at
Hampton, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from my
good friend Miss Mary F.
Pages:
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99