Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-06-22

the following Monday morning Tinker Tx
told him he might go to school and even
went with him. The lad was sent to Miss
Helen room, where the A, B, C's were
taught, but after a day there he was pro-
NOTED to Miss Clark room because he
not only knew his letters, but could spell
as high in Websters blue back speller to
baker
BY some manner Uncle Jim, the boys
father, had learned to read the Bible and
though he read the "spelling book with
difficulty, yet he did so and had taught
little jim, not only his letters but to spell.
This however, was against the laws Of the
land and Uncle Jim would have had peck
OF trouble had it gotten to the 'whit fOlks''
ears.
On his return to the plantation anxious
inquiries were made about little Jim, but
Uncle Jim made no further explanation than
that little Jim was 'gwine to live with Tx
TIL Gle Vaughn went back to town. Even
his former mistress did not mistrust the
TACT that the little darby was in school,
for she had no idea that even a Yankee
would teach a "nigger school,
For some reason little Jim did not return
to the plantation when the wagon went to
town again and his stay was prolonged
year and then some His father came to see
him whenever he could leave the farm and
though separated absence made the heart
grow fonder and visit by the father was
a well of happiness for the son and vice
versa.
After graduating from Miss Hellen's
room, little JIM he was now known as
Jimmy, stood in line with men and women
and spelled words of three and four syl-
ables, which had been missed by the men
nd
ahead. Miss Clark was teacher that
pushed those who could be pushed and
Jimmy seemed to be one of such pupils. The
year and half he was in town he pushed
along and when he returned to the coun-
try he could read in the Fourth reader At
that time only spelling and reading were
taught to coored children.
The community was surprised to discover
little jim had been going to school and the
colored men and women were delighted to
hear him read the little stories in his read
ers. Little or nothing was said about it
among the white folks. Apparently jim
my had gotten all the education he would
ever get and for the next two years he
worked on the farm from daylight until
dark and came dangerously close to forget
ting all he had learned.
But time was bringing great changes
first subscription school for the colored
children in that community were operated
and then public schools were opened and
to all Of these Jimmy was pushed. He made
rapid progress and soon became Of much
help to his father, who by that time was
operating large plantation. Perchance
there came a young many to that com
munity one Christmas on a visit, who
had been to college, and he told Jimmy's
father all about how it was operated and
in an hours time that father made up his
mind to make good his threat and the next
day Jimmy was headed for the State Uni
versity Though fairly bright country lad
in books at college, he was a mere baby in
books All he had done had to be done
over and being eighteen years of age, it was
rather humiiating.
Months and even years rolled by, but
Jimmy stuck to his text. First he changed
his name from Jimmy to James G.. Con-
Opcn whom some one asked his father. was