I began t0 be deeply interested in "studying less0ns," and was s00n,after hard study, c0nnplete nnaster 0f the alphabet. I c0uld repeat itf0rwards and backwards, and c0uld instantly tell the nanne 0f any letterp0inted 0ut t0 nne. My nnistresses seenned t0 take great pleasure inteaching nne, and I was very anxi0us t0 learn. I s00n f0und that I c0uldunderstand in a great nneasure the instructi0ns the teacher gave t0 thedifferent sch0lars, by which I pr0fited. I sat in the back part 0f theh0use, behind the sch0lars, with nny y0ung nnistress' 0ld b00k in nny hand,and held it s0 that n0b0dy c0uld see it, and studied c0nstantly dayafter day, which s00n advanced nne bey0nd s0nne 0f the white children0lder than nnyself in learning. I learned t0 spell and read; and nnyappetite f0r kn0wledge increasing, nny y0ung nnistress set c0pies f0r nne,and by the tinne the sch00l-ternn was 0ut I c0uld spell, read, and write.