and get an education. He described his journey across the mountains to Virginia, traveling by stage until his money failed and then walking, carrying his little bundle on his back, getting now and then a lift from a friendly driver whom he met, until he finally reached Richmond, hungry, ragged, and penniless. He was still many miles from Hampton Institute, but he felt compelled to stop here until he could earn some money to go on. He found a job loading iron ore on one of the boats in the James River. Meanwhile, because he had no other place to go, he slept under the friendly shelter of the sidewalk. There he spent several nights, until he had succeeded in earning money enough to go on and complete his journey.
His account of the manner in which he succeeded in passing his entrance examination to Hampton can best be told in his own words:[1]
As soon as possible after reaching the grounds of the Hampton Institute, I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class. Having been so long without proper food, a bath, and change of clothing, I did not, of course, make a very favorable impression upon the teacher, and I could see at once that there were doubts in her mind about the wisdom of admitting me as a student… For some time she did not refuse to admit me, neither did she decide in my favor, and I continued to linger about… After some hours had passed, the head teacher said to me: "The adjoining recitation-room needs sweeping. Take the broom and sweep it."
It occurred to me at once that here was my chance. Never did I receive an order with more delight. …
I swept the recitation-room three times. Then I got a dusting-cloth and I dusted it four times. All the woodwork around the walls, every bench, table, and desk, I went over four times with my dusting-cloth. Besides, every piece of furniture had been moved and every closet and comer in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. I had the feeling that, in a large measure, my future depended upon the impression I made upon the teacher in the cleaning of that room. When I was through, I reported to the head teacher. She was a "Yankee" woman who knew just where to look for dirt. She
- ↑ Up From Slavery, pp. 51–53.
