endship, which, despite my
oft-proven unworthiness, he has ever since given me in unstinted
measure. After that second year my hardships as a "work-student" were
practically over.

In my third year I entered the day-school, working one day in every week
and every other Saturday, and going to school the remainder of the time.
While the school made compulsory the earning of some money on the part
of all students, it set no maximum limit on the amounts to be earned. I
elected to earn as much as I could under the circumstances, earning, by
reason of the many odd jobs which I did, often as much as $20 per month,
going to school every day in the meantime. The average amount usually
earned is $5 and $6 per month. At one time I worked eight days per month
on the farm, sent notes of the school to 127 Negro newspapers, cleaned
one laboratory every day, played in both the brass band and the
orchestra, blew the bugle for the battalion, and taught two classes in
the night-school, for each of which duties I received pay; and even
though I broke down under the accumulated strain soon after my
graduation, I carried my point and completed the course of study as I
had planned.

[Illustration: THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BUILDING.]

In my fourth year I won the Trinity Church (Boston) Prize of $25 for
oratory; and in my senior year won the Loughridge Book Prize for
scholarship, and also the valedictory of my class, graduating in 1898.

I was immediately sent to the Schofield School, a Quaker institution for
Negroes in Aiken, S. C., to organize farmers' conferences on the order
of those conducted by the Tuskegee Institute, and to serve as a teacher
in the school. After one year's service in that position Mr. Washington
asked me to accept the position of Assistant Northern Financial Agent
for Tuskegee. I accepted, and remained two years in New England, helping
to interest friends in my _alma mater_. At my own request I was
transferred from the Northern work to the South, being assigned this
time to the Negro Conference work in Alabama. Before beginning this work
I was married to a Tuskegee girl, Miss Sallie McCann.

Within a few months a principal was needed for the Swayne Public School
of Montgomery, Ala., and this in the middle of the school year. Mr.
Washington recommended me for the work, and I was elected to the
position. At the close of the term I went to New York to study the
public-school system of that city as far as possible. Whi