fore I saw him I
begged a stamp and some paper and wrote to Mr. Washington that if
he would send me the money to come from there I would pay him in
work when I came. I received an answer from Mr. Logan stating
that if I would go to work there it would not be long before I
would get enough money to come on so I borrowed some money from
that man and landed there with $3.40. The food was very poor so I
soon ate that up. I was not satisfied at first and wanted to
leave but I did not have any money and did not want to write home
because I did not want my white people to know where I was until
I accomplished something so I made up my mind that if all these
boys and girls I see can stay here, I can too. So I was never
bothered any more. I went to work at the brick mason's trade
under Mr. Carter. They did not have any teacher at that time.
Soon after Mr. J. M. Green came and I learned fast and was soon
a corner man. I was a student two years and nine months. After
that time I secured an excuse and left for home. I was very proud
of my trade and all seemed to be surprised as no one knew where I
was but my white people. I wrote to them once a month and they
always answered and would send me money, clothes something to
eat. They were very glad I had gone there and tried to help me in
many ways when I got home. They had spoken to a contractor and I
had no trouble in getting work. I worked at home about two years.
Meantime I received a letter from Mr. Washington stating he would
like for me to return and work on the chapel, which I did. At
this time I was a hired man and not a student. I worked for the
school five or six years. Within that time I had helped build two
houses in Milledgeville Ga. and paid for them and bought me
thirty acres of land in Tuskegee, Ala. I feel very grateful to
the school for she has help me in a great many ways. I have
always had a great desire to farm but I said I never would farm
until I owned my land and stock.

So three years ago I bought some land and I am at the present
time farming. I like it and I expect I will continue at farming
instead of my trade. My white people are as good to me now as
they were when I was a boy. I made it a rule not to ask them for
anything unless I was compelled to but when I do they always send