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.
If the people who gave the money to provide that building could
appreciate the influence the sight of it had upon me, as well as upon
thousands of other youths, they would feel all the more encouraged to
make such gifts. 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 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.
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