Rawlings Institute - Hits and Bits Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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MY EXPERIENCE AS AN AGENT. T was in the year 1872 that I began, using the every-day expression of the country people of my section of the country, to shift for myself. It was no easy matter, I can assure you, to aeeustom myself to regular work, tbr my parents had been wealthy, and I, being the only child, had been spoiled in every conceivable mannen. But now that my parents were old, and had lost all of their hard-earned wealth, I was forced to start out to make my own way, and to support my parents. The inhabitants of the homes and villages adjoining my native home were,tbr the most part, simple, energetic, hard-working people who found both pleasure and enjoyment in the small things of life. Having received a box of stereoscopic views and of stereoscopes, the life of George NVashington and that of Queen Victoria, which I had ordered from New York, I borrowed a horse and buggy from a friend, and on the 12th of June, 1872, I left my dear old home for better or for worse. ' My experiences on 1ny first trip were many and various. Stop- ping one day at a farm house at about twelve o'clock, I was invited in to dinner, which consisted of pork, cabbage, turnips, co1'n bread and butter. After dinner I showed my ff wares. The views pleased the people greatly, so they bought quite a number, but the life of Queen Victoria was an abomination in their sight. IVeuns ain't never heard tell of her, an' the fact is, weuns don't care about havin' no such book of no such woman what weuns don't know nuthin' 'bout, they said. They bought the life of WVashington, however. . Just as I was leaving the old man said to me : Young man, I most in generally gives younguns from the city a talkin' to when I see 'em. It dns me a sight of good, and I ai11't above saying that it dus some on 'em what' s got sense, good too. You seems to have some sense, though you do sell that book 'bout that woman what we don't know nothin' 'bout. Let me say to you that weuns air not like you' uns be, so don' t go 'bout this country with your head high like you air a-stepping on the clouds. I thanked him and followed his advice, greatly to my benefit. NVhile in a small town, I stopped at an old colored man's house one morning. He was much pleased with the views and bought several, but the books met a tt cold reception. ff WVhat for does you sposen I wants to know any more 'bout George IVashington and Queen Vic? I done knowed George all his life. He was de wickedest nigger you eber heard tell of Course I know all 'bout him. YVan't it jus' las' year dat he stole Captin Radnor's bes' horse and were cotched and put in jail? An' de nex' mornin' when dey went fur to look fur him he had broke de jail an' had fell outen de fouth story an' had broke his neck. You needen think you can sell dat book'round here, cause everybody knows George. An' dat 0116 'bout Vic, I don't want dat nuther. I knows dat 'oman. I knows she stole de satin dresses of de 'Squire's young miss, and was put in jail, an' dar she is yit. I did my best to C011Vil1CC him that they were neither the George nor the Victoria of his acquaintance, but he would not be convinced, so I had to leave him wondering why de lives of such miseble niggers was written up in books. It would take too much time and space to mention all of my experiences, so I will conclude. I gave up that work at the end of the year, but I have never regretted the time I spent as an agent, for it had for mc both pleasure and profit.

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Before the boom of civil war I-lad through the South resounded, Like muttering'tlnmders from afar That scare awav each timid star, The Institute was founded. She lived and llonrished twenty years, Then changed her maiden name, To circle in still wider spheres, Known by the name that now appears To give her endless fame. The Institute delights to take Virginia's H,Lf1'C0ll0Hl2H lass, And in her very being make A gentlcness and grace awake i That nothing can surpass. The new girl eomes, perhaps, untaught ln cultnre's pleasing trend- llowever sweet and pure in thought, She ean't appear just as she ought Nl'ithout a guide and friend. The lirst few days are often spent In longing thoughts of home, But nature softly heals the rent, For new friendships restore content, No matter where we roam. No frienship has a sweeter charm Than that which takes its rise From strolling sweetly arm in arm, lVith elass-mates, when the d:1y IS warm, Beneath our Southern skies. The brightest sun that ever shined llas sunken in the XVest, The blithest maid of gayest mind ln sorrow sometimes has repined- llas sometimes been distressed. o the Glass of 1902. For dillieulties often rise To block the studentls way, But she who hopes to gain her prize Must dig to where her treasure lies. If she would win the day. A studeut's cares are seldom great Until her linal year, And with a sure, increasing weight They then begin to aggravate, And breed a world of fear. She then, perchance, with true regret Looks backward o'cr her past, And counts the sums she failed to And wonders if there can be yet A hope for her at last. ller past life now is but a span, ller school days nearly spent, She loves to meditate and plan On matrimony and the man On whom her heart is bent. With puzzled brain she works along Till graduation day, NVhen out before the list'niug throng She sings her graduation song In such a winsome way, That hearty cneores, shouts and eheei Proelaim her praises loud, Till she, a second time, appears l'pon the stage to please the cars Of her enraptured erowd. The faithful student wins a prize Un graduation clay, For earth becomes a paradise To every mind that's truly wise ln lVisdom's holy way. S3 get lVhen graduation day is past, And she's about to start For home, her pulse beats doubly fast, For farewell partings always cast A shadow in the heart. She knows that she's about to leave The friends sbe's learned to love, And how it makes her spirit grieve 1' No more thev'll meet from that last eve . . u 7 Tlll in the eourts above. True, here and there, throughout their d Old class-mates meet again 5 But, just as true, there are always Some missing faces-this o'erlays The pleasure with a pain. A few more weeks, and you will see That mother of your love, And Rawlings Institute will be As lonely as the shoreless sea To Noah's wearied dove. Uh, gentle Future, ever bless The members of this class lVith hope and joy and happiness, NVith perfect health and sure sueeess, As years and decades pass. A maiden, like a lily fair That springs from out the sod, Becomes, when reared with proper care, And l1lll'llll'Ctl by a mother's prayer, The masterpiece of God. nys ll. C'.t

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