Before leaving Nashville, I put on my best. I knew, in case of any difficulty, my clothes would be an important factor in obtaining success. I went to an old colored man, plowing in that field, opened my duster, showed him my nice coat and shirt-stud, at the same time telling him, as fast as I could, whence I came, my object in coming, and reading the Fisk catalogue to let him learn something about the school. He seemed satisfied with me. His countenance had changed from its troubled appearance to a pleasant one. But for ten minutes we argued the possibility of a cotton crop being made there if school opened then. I made point after point, but could not convince him, so put out after his wife. She was readily convinced of the desirability of having school open immediately; she promised to send three children, and to turn the old man. I next encountered Jack Davis. “If you open school now, we’ll starve next winter,” said he. I tried to show him differently, but was unsuccessful. I asked him for a drink. On reaching the house for it I explained my mission to his wife, and obtained her consent to open the school, with her promise to send two. I next met a man who had no children to send. When I showed him the picture of Fisk University (Jubilee Hall), he immediately volunteered to work for me. He and I went and saw nearly every man in the community before 9 o’clock that night. The majority were against me, but I had resolved to open school there and then. Time would not permit me to delay longer. The next day (Sunday) I was given a Bible class to teach in the Sunday-school. To my surprise, on going out doors I found that a preliminary school meeting had been held under the trees and that the Sunday-school teacher, though against me on coming there, had changed and was marshalling his forces for the great meeting on the morrow. At 11 o’clock that same morning I heard a rousing blast by a huntsman’s horn. On inquiring, I found that my childless friend was telling the people to come together the next day. In the meantime, Jack Davis came over and discussed the matter with me. He closed by saying that I talked too fast for him, but that one thing was sure: he would send no children.