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Alabama - Mary Eines

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the other one.

The girls came in from school and greeted us courteously. They were dressed alike in plaid skirts and red topper coats. Their mother's training showed in their pleasant manners and self-possession. Myrtice had a head-ache; so she lay down on the bed. Blona went to make a fire in the stove and fix supper.

She remarked that they never had hut two meals a day. That was breakfast and supper when they got home from school. Myrtice, regardless of her headache, was in a talkative mood. She began to tell about incidents that had happened that day at school, and soon was telling all about their school life.

"All the time that we were working in the field, Blona and I were planning to go to school. We didn't see how we could for we had no money, but we didn't give up hope. After we finished high school, we wrote to the Alabama State Teachers' College in Montgomery, the school for colored. The principal got a place for us to work in Cloverdale with some of the rich white people and go to school. We borrowed some money from Mr. Jones, a banker, and promised to pay him in the summer by working on his farm. This we did. He was glad to help us. It didn't take much, just train fare and a few clothes. We worked hard at the white folks' house and went to school during the day. We stayed all that first winter.

"The next year we couldn't be spared at home. Mama couldn't take the load by herself. Dorothy and John Wesley, were still in high school at home. The next year Blona went back for four months, and the summer following she went for three months. That winter we both stayed in school. Dorothy, was large enough to work and help at home and Papa was assigned to teach an adult school.

"Blona was able to teach the next winter but papa lost his job after she began teaching. We have both been teaching for three years now and Dorothy, with the help of Federal aid, spent three years in Huntsville

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