“When I had saved what I considered enough money with which to reach Hampton, I thanked the captain of the vessel for his kindness and started again.  Without any unusual occurrence I reached Hampton, with a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin my education.  To me it had been a long, eventful journey, but the first sight of the large, three-story, brick school building seemed to have rewarded me for all that I had undergone in order to reach the place.

“It seemed to me to be the largest and most beautiful building I had ever seen.  The sight of it seemed to give me new life.  I felt that a new kind of existence had now begun—­that life would now have a new meaning.  I felt that I had reached the promised land, and I resolved to let no obstacle prevent me from putting forth the highest effort to fit myself to accomplish the most good in the world.

“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 her, and I could see at once that there were doubts in her mind about the wisdom of admitting me as a student.  I felt that I could hardly blame her if she got the idea that I was a worthless loafer or tramp.  For some time she did not refuse to admit me; neither did she decide in my favor, and I continued to linger about her, and to impress her in all the ways I could with my worthiness.  In the meantime, I saw her admitting other students, and that added greatly to my discomfort, for I felt, deep down in my heart, that I could do as well as they, if I could only get a chance to show her what was in me.

“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 knew that I could sweep, for Mrs. Ruffner had thoroughly taught me how to do that when I lived with her.

“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 corner of 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 went into the room and inspected the floor and closets; then she took her handkerchief and rubbed it on the woodwork, about the walls, and over the table and benches.  When she was unable to find one bit of dirt on the floor, or a particle of dust on any of the furniture, she quietly remarked:  ‘I guess you will do to enter this institution.’