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I was helped into a buggy behind a mule. It was about five o'clock when we reach Mr. Cains. This is my boarding place. Mrs. Cain, a woman of about fourty summers, met me at the door. And soon I was introduced to the children, Ida, a niece, Lois, Ruth, Frank and Jamison. Ida is 14. Lois 11. Ruth 6. Frank 7 and Jamison 3. I shall not take time and space to describe every thing. I had met Scott Cain at Edgefield, also Capt. The place is a typical comfortable country house, quiet and peaceable. My room was very cozy and clean. A small wood fire was burning in the fire place: A bed, washstand, dresser and small table were the furniture of the room. A large center rug and a smaller one partly covered the floor. The two windows opened to the east. A few pictures adorned the white walls.
Mrs. Cain has a beautiful flower garden. It is on the right of the house. They have a grape arbor also, to which I paid several visits. Friday and Saturday was spent in unpacking and getting settled for my work. I went to church Sunday morning. I never in my life felt so shabby. I dressed in a rush. I suppose that was the cause of my feeling, for I was dressed as well as any one there. I did feel rather lonely to be among so many strangers. I met miss Grace Bailey whom I had known
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at Edgefield. She is now teaching at Wedgefield. I met several people that Sunday. It is seven miles from here to Wedgefield. We went to a Baptist church. I havn't been to a Methodist church since I left old Bethel. The P.M. was spent mostly in the parlor, Mr and Mrs. Hampton Ramsey were here in the P.M.
Monday morning Oct 16. 1899. I began my first school. O, it was a critical morning. I did not say one word of my speech I had made up. I got along very nicely indeed for the first time. I had eleven "scholars the first day. The four Cains, four Ramseys - Hattie, Matt, Bryce and Mary Lou) - and three Dwights - Frank, Annie and Peter. I got along very nicely the first weeks with one little exception. Meanwhile on Tuesday I had a new Scholar Rutlege Barkley. He was a poor little neglected boy. Friday morning while hearing a class I was called to the door. There appeared one of the queerest looking specimens of humanity I had seen. He was a man of medium height but a little above the medium in circumference. He wore a black slouch hat, a dark coat, a dirty shirt of some dark color, and dark trousers. He wore beard streaked with gray. His face was of dark shade, whether dark from tan, dirt or nature, I could not tell perhaps all combined. His eyes were grey I think. At that time resembled some angry