Myobservationandexperiencehasbeenthatanyonewhoisanxiousenoughforaknowledgeandculturetobewillingtosacrificefalsepride,anddowellwhateverhishandsfindtodothatneedsdoing,caneasilygothroughcollege,andeventakeadvanceduniversitytraining.Itisnotsomuchaquestionofmoneyasdesire,determinationandsteadfastness.Theonlyexceptioniswhereoneisboundbyhigherduties,suchascaringforparents,oranycallfromtheDivinethatisdirectandimmediate. WhenIstartedtocollegeinthefallof1889,Ionlyhad,ofmyownmaking,alittlemorethanenoughmoneytobuynecessaryclothingandrailroadfarefromStatesville,N.C.,toNashville,Tenn.IhadstoodthecompetitiveexaminationforascholarshipatPeabodyCollegeforTeachersandthatpaidtwohundreddollarsayearinadditiontofreetuition. MajorFinger,whowasthenSuperintendentofEducationforNorthCarolina,wrotemethatwhile92othershadwonthescholarshipsopentoNorthCarolinaforthatyear,IwaspreparedtoenterthesophomoreclassatPeabody,andthatifIwouldpaymyexpensesoneyear,hewould,upontheationofthePresident,appointmetoascholarshipwhichwouldbegoodfortwoyears.Whenmothersawmyheartwassetongoingtocollege,shesaid,“Rufusshallgoifwehavetosellthecreekfield.”AsIwasthefourthchildofafamilyofeightchildren,andaswewerenotthroughpayingforthewholefarm,Icouldnotaccept. WhenItoldMr.R.G.FranklinofElkin,N.C.,ofMajorFinger’soffer,hesaidhewouldbeoneofthreementolend50.00each.Col.A.B.GalowayofElkin,andMr.JamesBates,nearCappsMill,joinedhiminfurnishingthestrictlynecessarymoneyforthefirstyear.Fatherstoodmysecurity,andheandCol.GalowayandMr.Bateshavegonewheresuchunselfishgoodnessandgenerousfaitharefullyappreciatedandrewarded.OnlyMr.Franklinlivesformetothankandblessforhisfaithandhelpinghandwhenbothweresomuchneeded.Thegoodmotherstilllives,andhasincreasingjoyandhopeinlife,andallofherchildrenriseupandcallherblessed. DuringthefirstyearatPeabodywehadashortvacationinFebruary,andIwentoutasanexperimentalbookagent.Ifoundthatastryingasitwasontheagentaswellasthepeople,Icouldmake93moneyasacanvasser.SometimeinthespringDr.Payne,PresidentofPeabody,recommendedmeforascholarship,andMajorFingergavemetheappointment.ThisIheldfortwoyearsuntilIreceivedmybachelor’sdegree.Thesummervacationswereallemployedincanvassingorcollecting,andIbecameagoodenoughcollectorforapublishinghouseatNashvilletopayme70.00amonthandexpenses.Apartfrommystrictloyaltytomyemployerandhardwork,Iregretthispartofmylife,forIhaveseenforalongtimethatthesellingofevenBiblestothepoorathighpricesontheseductiveinstallmentplan,isaformofbusinessthatisnotrighteousenougheventouseasameansforgettinganeducation.Asthetruelightbreaksuponus,wecandonothingthatisnotnecessary,rightandbeneficent.
