One day, when we were holding a
meeting to secure funds for its erection, an old, ante-bellum coloured
man came a distance of twelve miles and brought in his ox-card a large
hog. When the meeting was in progress, he rose in the midst of the
company and said that he had no money which he could give, but he had
raised two fine hogs, and that he had brought one of them as a
contribution toward the expenses of the building. He closed his
announcement by saying: "Any nigger that's got any love for his race,
or any respect for himself, will bring a hog to the next meeting."
Quite a number of men in the community also volunteered to give
several days' work, each, toward the erection of the building.
After we had secured all the help that we could in Tuskegee, Miss
Davidson decided to go North for the purpose of securing additional
funds. For weeks she visited individuals and spoke in churches and
before Sunday schools and other organizations. She found this work
quite trying, and often embarrassing. The school was not known, but
she was not long in winning her way into the confidence of the best
people in the North.
The first gift from any Northern person was received from a New
York lady whom Miss Davidson met on the boat that was bringing her
North.
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