After trying for several days in and near the town of Hampton, I
finally secured work in a restaurant at Fortress Monroe. The wages,
however, were very little more than my board. At night, and between
meals, I found considerable time for study and reading; and in this
direction I improved myself very much during the summer.
When I left school at the end of my first year, I owed the
institution sixteen dollars that I had not been able to work out. It
was my greatest ambition during the summer to save money enough with
which to pay this debt. I felt that this was a debt of honour, and
that I could hardly bring myself to the point of even trying to enter
school again till it was paid. I economized in every way that I could
think of -- did my own washing, and went without necessary garments --
but still I found my summer vacation ending and I did not have the
sixteen dollars.
One day, during the last week of my stay in the restaurant, I
found under one of the tables a crisp, new ten-dollar bill. I could
hardly contain myself, I was so happy. As it was not my place of
business I felt it to be the proper thing to show the money to the
proprietor. This I did. He seemed as glad as I was, but he coolly
explained to me that, as it was his place of business, he had a right
to keep the money, and he proceeded to do so.
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