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.
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