Mackie, the lady principal, asking me to
return to Hampton two weeks before the opening of the school, in
order that I might assist her in cleaning the buildings and
getting things in order for the new school year. This was just
the opportunity I wanted. It gave me a chance to secure a credit
in the treasurer's office. I started for Hampton at once.
During these two weeks I was taught a lesson which I shall never
forget. Miss Mackie was a member of one of the oldest and most
cultured families of the North, and yet for two weeks she worked
by my side cleaning windows, dusting rooms, putting beds in
order, and what not. She felt that things would not be in
condition for the opening of school unless every window-pane was
perfectly clean, and she took the greatest satisfaction in
helping to clean them herself. The work which I have described
she did every year that I was at Hampton.
It was hard for me at this time to understand how a woman of her
education and social standing could take such delight in
performing such service, in order to assist in the elevation of
an unfortunate race. Ever since then I have had no patience with
any school for my race in the South which did not teach its
students the dignity of labour.
During my last year at Hampton every minute of my time that was
not occupied with my duties as janitor was devoted to hard study.
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