may roam:
Night's pitchy corner; a hard crust of bread;
Cot for your feeble limbs, pillow your head--
What's the use?

Now, what is loving but acting a fool?
And what is quitting?--Producing a rule:
Break short the flight of Dan Cupid's swift dart,
Aimed at the core of an innocent heart!
What's the use?

Say, what is marrying but getting in trouble?
Trifling 'way joy while your sorrow is double?
What, then, is your state my friend, after you've wed?
Naught but a vial of wrath poured upon your head!
What's the use?

Ah! what is batching but living a man;
Sporting and sleeping--just running his plan?
Come when he's ready, and go when he please--
Brain's full of joy, his heart is at ease--
See, that's the use!

O GOD, WILT THOU HELP ME IN SCHOOL?

On Saturday, March 1, 1902, I left Alcorn and went home in
order to earn money enough to defray my expenses for the year
1902-03. I began work as soon as I reached home and labored
on father's farm until the last week in June, 1902. I had
seen by that time that there was nothing to be realized from
that source but disheartening failure.

I then acted as agent for the "Zion Record," published by
Rev. R. A. Adams, 39 St. Catherine Street, Natchez, Miss.,
until August 20, 1902. Knowing that there was a dormitory to
be built for girls at Alcorn, I went there, hoping to get
work and to be there when school opened. On arriving, I
failed to get employment. I had no money. The Boarding Hall
was run by boys who stayed over summer. Finding I was
unemployed, they refused to let me take meals with them.
There I was--friendless and penniless--without a bite of
bread and nowhere to lay my head. To drive the wolf of
starvation away and to keep from being devoured, I made
arrangements with President Lanier to cut wood for something
to eat, until school opened Sept. 2, 1902.

When school opened, the Faculty met the first day and
distributed the positions to the eligibles. On going down to
the Hall to take my first meal, to my surprise I found I had
been awarded the position of waiter. To hold a position, or
even remain on the Campus, one must matriculate within three
days after school starts, if there when it opens, or after he
arrives, if not. I then wrote home for the matriculation fee
($13), as I had labored there all summer. As that letter