permission to teach the children of her "servants."
She readily consented, and, accordingly, a night-
School was opened in the very woodshop in which
he worked by day. Here young Flipper was initiated
into the first of the three mysterious R's, viz.,
"reading 'riting and 'rithmetic." Here, in 1864,
at eight years of age, his education began. And
the first book he ever studied--I dare say ever
saw--was a confederate reprint of Webster's
"Blueback Speller." His then tutor has since
graduated at Westminster College in Pennsylvania,
and is, at the time of this writing, United States
Consul at Malaga, Spain, having served in the same
capacity for four years at Port Mahon, Spain.

But alas! even this happy arrangement was destined
to be disturbed. This dissolute mistress and her
slaves, with all valuable movable property, were
compelled to flee before Sherman's victorious
arms. Macon, a city just one hundred and three
miles south-east of Atlanta, became the new home
of the Flippers. A spacious dwelling was secured
in West Macon. In a part of this was stored away
Mrs. Ponder's plate and furniture, under the
guardianship of Flipper, who with his family
occupied the rest of the house. Here all was safe.
The terrible fate of Atlanta was not extended to
Macon. The only cause of alarm was Wilson, who
approached the city from the east, and, having
thrown in a few shells, withdrew without doing