up from slavery-第12节
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r of breathing； emphasis； and articulation。 Simply to be able to talk in public for the sake of talking has never had the least attraction to me。 In fact； I consider that there is nothing so empty and unsatisfactory as mere abstract public speaking； but from my early childhood I have had a desire to do something to make the world better； and then to be able to speak to the world about that thing。
The debating societies at Hampton were a constant source of delight to me。 These were held on Saturday evening； and during my whole life at Hampton I do not recall that I missed a single meeting。 I not only attended the weekly debating society； but was instrumental in organizing an additional society。 I noticed that between the time when supper was over and the time to begin evening study there were about twenty minutes which the young men usually spent in idle gossip。 About twenty of us formed a society for the purpose of utilizing this time in debate or in practice in public speaking。 Few persons ever derived more happiness or benefit from the use of twenty minutes of time than we did in this way。
At the end of my second year at Hampton； by the help of some money sent me by my mother and brother John； supplemented by a small gift from one of the teachers at Hampton； I was enabled to return to my home in Malden； West Virginia； to spend my vacation。 When I reached home I found that the salt…furnaces were not running； and that the coal…mine was not being operated on account of the miners being out on 〃strike。〃 This was something which； it seemed； usually occurred whenever the men got two or three months ahead in their savings。 During the strike； of course； they spent all that they had saved； and would often return to work in debt at the same wages； or would move to another mine at considerable expense。 In either case； my observations convinced me that the miners were worse off at the end of the strike。 Before the days of strikes in that section of the country； I knew miners who had considerable money in the bank； but as soon as the professional labour agitators got control； the savings of even the more thrifty ones began disappearing。
My mother and the other members of my family were； of course； much rejoiced to see me and to note the improvement that I had made during my two years' absence。 The rejoicing on the part of all classes of the coloured people； and especially the older ones； over my return； was almost pathetic。 I had to pay a visit to each family and take a meal with each； and at each place tell the story of my experiences at Hampton。 In addition to this I had to speak before the church and Sunday…school； and at various other places。 The thing that I was most in search of； though； work； I could not find。 There was no work on account of the strike。 I spent nearly the whole of the first month of my vacation in an effort to find something to do by which I could earn money to pay my way back to Hampton and save a little money to use after reaching there。
Toward the end of the first month； I went to place a considerable distance from my home； to try to find employment。 I did not succeed； and it was night before I got started on my return。 When I had gotten within a mile or so of my home I was so completely tired out that I could not walk any farther； and I went into an old； abandoned house to spend the remainder of the night。 About three o'clock in the morning my brother John found me asleep in this house； and broke to me； as gently as he could； the sad news that our dear mother had died during the night。
This seemed to me the saddest and blankest moment in my life。 For several years my mother had not been in good health； but I had no idea； when I parted from her the previous day； that I should never see her alive again。 Besides that； I had always had an intense desire to be with her when she did pass away。 One of the chief ambitions which spurred me on at Hampton was that I might be able to get to be in a position in which I could better make my mother comfortable and happy。 She had so often expressed the wish that she might be permitted to live to see her children educated and started out in the world。
In a very short time after the death of my mother our little home was in confusion。 My sister Amanda； although she tried to do the best she could； was too young to know anything about keeping house； and my stepfather was not able to hire a housekeeper。 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。 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。 I was determined； if possible； to make such a record in my class as would cause me to be placed on the 〃honour roll〃 of Commencement speakers。 This I was successful in doing。 It was June of 1875 when I finished the regular course of study at Hampton。 The greatest benefits that I got out of my at the Hampton Institute； perhaps； may be classified under two heads：
First was contact with a great man； General S。C。 Armstrong； who； I repeat； was； in my opinion； the rarest； strongest； and most beautiful character that it has ever been my privilege to meet。
Second； at Hampton； for the first time； I learned what education was expected to do for an individual。 Before going there I had a good deal of the then rather prevalent idea among our people that to secure an education meant to have a good； easy time； free from all necessity for manual labour。 At Hampton I not only learned that it was not a disgrace to labour； but learned to love labour； not alone for its financial value； but for labour's own sake and for the independence and self…reliance which the ability to do something which the world wants done brings。 At that institution I got my first taste of what it meant to live a life of unselfishness； my first knowledge of the fact that the happiest individuals are those who do the most to make others useful and happy。
I was completely out of money when I graduated。 In company with our other Hampton students； I secured a place as a table waiter in a summer hotel in Connecticut； and managed to borrow enough money with which to get there。 I had not been in this hotel long before I found out that I knew practically nothing about waiting on a hotel table。 The head waiter； however； supposed that I was an accomplished waiter。 He soon gave me charge of the table at which their sat four or five wealthy and rather aristocratic people。 My ignorance of how to wait upon them was so apparent that they scolded me in such a severe manner that I became frightened and left their table； leaving them sitting there without food。 As a result of this I was reduced from the p
