All was going well for me until one morning, our teacher Baxter Norris did something very foolish. Just after school started that morning, he discovered the name "Joseph Matthews" written on the window sill. He asked who did it, but everyone denied writing it.

Each child had to go up to his desk and take an oath on the Bible. Still, nobody did it. Then each child had to write Joseph Matthews on his slate, to see whose writing was most like it, so he could judge the guilty one.

I hadn't seen the name on the window. However, he judged my writing to be the one most like it. I knew I was innocent, but as a sensitive child, it was too much for me to take.

It was dinner hour and my heart was breaking, so I left the school, never to return. So that's how my school days ended. I have suffered much for it over the years.

I went home from school that day and broke down crying as I told my mother I would never go back. She was hurt as well, but didn't force me to go back. We all thought the teacher had done a very foolish thing.

It took me a long time to get over my hurt. I lost my love for school, and was deprived of my education. I always liked to do things well, but for the education part, I will never measure up.

My writing is very poor and I am unable to do the things I would love to do. However, I've tried to pick up what I can, on my own. I have come this far, thank God, and I'm sure I'll make it now, to keep in touch with each of my family.