As soon as possible after reaching the grounds of the Hampton Institute, I presented myself before the head teacher for an assignment to a class.  Having been so long without proper food, a bath, and a change of clothing, I did not, of course, make a very favourable 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 favour, 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 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 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 in the room had been thoroughly cleaned.  I had the feeling that in a large measure my future dependent 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.”

I was one of the happiest souls on Earth.  The sweeping of that room was my college examination, and never did any youth pass an examination for entrance into Harvard or Yale that gave him more genuine satisfaction.  I have passed several examinations since then, but I have always felt that this was the best one I ever passed.

I have spoken of my own experience in entering the Hampton Institute.  Perhaps few, if any, had anything like the same experience that I had, but about the same period there were hundreds who found their way to Hampton and other institutions after experiencing something of the same difficulties that I went through.  The young men and women were determined to secure an education at any cost.