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.