school-house I ever entered, and lo! to my greatest surprise there sat
a woman who was anything but "blue," whose face was as white and fair
as any ever seen, whose hair was slightly golden, whose voice seemed
more sweet, mellow and musical than the softest flute note; she was
one whom all praised and loved. The only blue about her was her eyes,
which marked her pure Saxon lineage.

When I felt sure that no monster would suddenly spring from those
queer walls of white and black, I silently exclaimed, "Why, that's a
white woman!"

In March, 1873, she began teaching me the alphabet, when I was
thirteen years old. I had no mother and no home or friend, other than
Judge S----, in whose family I served.

In 1874 he left the city, leaving me homeless. I vainly sought work
but was turned away with "too small."

Pinched and pressed by hunger and want, I was despairing when that
angel-like teacher, one of the purest and best of women, came to my
rescue, and thenceforth with her own hands and earnings continued to
help supply all my needs--material and spiritual. She taught me the
alphabet of school, of life and of heaven; she influenced me to pray,
and in answer to our prayers I was converted and joined the church in
1875.

In May, 1879, finishing the course, I graduated from Grammar
Department A, of Burrell Academy, and began teaching in Cato, Miss.,
in 1880. In the autumn of this year, I entered the Normal and College
Preparatory Departments of Talladega College, and graduated in May,