up from slavery-第6节
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In some way a feeling got among the coloured people that it was far from proper for them to bear the surname of their former owners； and a great many of them took other surnames。 This was one of the first signs of freedom。 When they were slaves； a coloured person was simply called 〃John〃 or 〃Susan。〃 There was seldom occasion for more than the use of the one name。 If 〃John〃 or 〃Susan〃 belonged to a white man by the name of 〃Hatcher；〃 sometimes he was called 〃John Hatcher；〃 or as often 〃Hatcher's John。〃 But there was a feeling that 〃John Hatcher〃 or 〃Hatcher's John〃 was not the proper title by which to denote a freeman； and so in many cases 〃John Hatcher〃 was changed to 〃John S。 Lincoln〃 or 〃John S。 Sherman；〃 the initial 〃S〃 standing for no name； it being simply a part of what the coloured man proudly called his 〃entitles。〃
As I have stated； most of the coloured people left the old plantation for a short while at least； so as to be sure； it seemed； that they could leave and try their freedom on to see how it felt。 After they had remained away for a while； many of the older slaves； especially； returned to their old homes and made some kind of contract with their former owners by which they remained on the estate。
My mother's husband； who was the stepfather of my brother John and myself； did not belong to the same owners as did my mother。 In fact； he seldom came to our plantation。 I remember seeing his there perhaps once a year； that being about Christmas time。 In some way； during the war； by running away and following the Federal soldiers； it seems； he found his way into the new state of West Virginia。 As soon as freedom was declared； he sent for my mother to come to the Kanawha Valley； in West Virginia。 At that time a journey from Virginia over the mountains to West Virginia was rather a tedious and in some cases a painful undertaking。 What little clothing and few household goods we had were placed in a cart； but the children walked the greater portion of the distance； which was several hundred miles。
I do not think any of us ever had been very far from the plantation； and the taking of a long journey into another state was quite an event。 The parting from our former owners and the members of our own race on the plantation was a serious occasion。 From the time of our parting till their death we kept up a correspondence with the older members of the family； and in later years we have kept in touch with those who were the younger members。 We were several weeks making the trip； and most of the time we slept in the open air and did our cooking over a log fire out…of…doors。 One night I recall that we camped near an abandoned log cabin； and my mother decided to build a fire in that for cooking； and afterward to make a 〃pallet〃 on the floor for our sleeping。 Just as the fire had gotten well started a large black snake fully a yard and a half long dropped down the chimney and ran out on the floor。 Of course we at once abandoned that cabin。 Finally we reached our destinationa little town called Malden； which is about five miles from Charleston； the present capital of the state。
At that time salt…mining was the great industry in that part of West Virginia； and the little town of Malden was right in the midst of the salt…furnaces。 My stepfather had already secured a job at a salt…furnace； and he had also secured a little cabin for us to live in。 Our new house was no better than the one we had left on the old plantation in Virginia。 In fact； in one respect it was worse。 Notwithstanding the poor condition of our plantation cabin； we were at all times sure of pure air。 Our new home was in the midst of a cluster of cabins crowded closely together； and as there were no sanitary regulations； the filth about the cabins was often intolerable。 Some of our neighbours were coloured people； and some were the poorest and most ignorant and degraded white people。 It was a motley mixture。 Drinking； gambling； quarrels； fights； and shockingly immoral practices were frequent。 All who lived in the little town were in one way or another connected with the salt business。 Though I was a mere child； my stepfather put me and my brother at work in one of the furnaces。 Often I began work as early as four o'clock in the morning。
The first thing I ever learned in the way of book knowledge was while working in this salt…furnace。 Each salt…packer had his barrels marked with a certain number。 The number allotted to my stepfather was 〃18。〃 At the close of the day's work the boss of the packers would come around and put 〃18〃 on each of our barrels； and I soon learned to recognize that figure wherever I saw it； and after a while got to the point where I could make that figure； though I knew nothing about any other figures or letters。
From the time that I can remember having any thoughts about anything； I recall that I had an intense longing to learn to read。 I determined； when quite a small child； that； if I accomplished nothing else in life； I would in some way get enough education to enable me to read common books and newspapers。 Soon after we got settled in some manner in our new cabin in West Virginia； I induced my mother to get hold of a book for me。 How or where she got it I do not know； but in some way she procured an old copy of Webster's 〃blue…back〃 spelling…book； which contained the alphabet； followed by such meaningless words as 〃ab；〃 〃ba；〃 〃ca；〃 〃da。〃 I began at once to devour this book； and I think that it was the first one I ever had in my hands。 I had learned from somebody that the way to begin to read was to learn the alphabet； so I tried in all the ways I could think of to learn it；all of course without a teacher； for I could find no one to teach me。 At that time there was not a single member of my race anywhere near us who could read； and I was too timid to approach any of the white people。 In some way； within a few weeks； I mastered the greater portion of the alphabet。 In all my efforts to learn to read my mother shared fully my ambition； and sympathized with me and aided me in every way that she could。 Though she was totally ignorant； she had high ambitions for her children； and a large fund of good； hard； common sense； which seemed to enable her to meet and master every situation。 If I have done anything in life worth attention； I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother。
In the midst of my struggles and longing for an education； a young coloured boy who had learned to read in the state of Ohio came to Malden。 As soon as the coloured people found out that he could read； a newspaper was secured； and at the close of nearly every day's work this young man would be surrounded by a group of men and women who were anxious to hear him read the news contained in the papers。 How I used to envy this man！ He seemed to me to be the one young man in all the world who ought to be satisfied with his attainments。
About this time the question of having some kind of a school opened for the coloured children in the village began to be discussed by members of the race。 As it would be the first school for Negro children that had ever been opened in that part of Virginia； it was； of course； to be a great event； and the discussion excited the wildest interest。 The most perplexing question was where to find a teacher。 The young man from Ohio who had learned to read the papers was considered； but his age was against him。 In the midst of the discussion about a teacher； another young coloured man from Ohio； who had been a soldier； in some way found his way into town。 It was soon learned that he possessed considerable education； and he was engaged by the coloured people to teach their first school。 As yet no free schools had been started for coloured people in that section； hence each family agreed to pay a certain amount per month； with the understanding that the teacher was to 〃board 'round〃that is； spend a day with each family。 This was not bad for the teacher； for each family tried to provide the very best on the day the teacher was to be its guest。 I recall that I looked forward with an anxious appetite to the 〃teacher's day〃 at our little cabin。
This experience of a whole race beginning to go to school for the first time； presents one of the most interesting studies that has ever occurred in connection with the development of any race。 Few people who were not right in the midst of the scenes can form any exact idea of the intense desire which the people of my race showed for an education。 As I have stated； it was a whole race trying to go to school。 Few were too young； and none too old； to make the attempt to learn。 As fast as any kind of teachers could be secured； not only were day…schools filled； but night…schools as well。 The great ambition of the older people was to try to learn to read the Bible before they died。 With this end in view men and women who were fifty or seventy…five years old would often be found in the night…school。 Some day…schools were formed soon after freedom； but the principal book studied in the Sunday…school was the spelling…book。 Day…school； night…school； Sunday…school； were always crowded； and often many had to be turned away for want of room。
The opening of the school in the Kanawha Valley； however； brought to
