“Miss P. [his teacher] was all right. When I could not get my lessons, she would not scold me, but helped me out on them. Miss L. [another teacher] had it in for me. I was to blame part of the time, but she blamed other folks’ actions on me, and the school was right near the park. I could see them playing and having fun. I wanted to have some fun, too, so I ran away with another fellow.”
“Run just to get away from school. Gather up old barrels and junk to get money to go to shows; used to go alone mostly.”
“Liked all the teachers but one; she didn’t like colored boys. I liked to walk around the streets and look into the big store windows. Ran away to go to the theatre, and to go to ride on the express wagon.”
“I didn’t like school; I didn’t like geography and history. I liked to go to shows. Rather be out working than going to school. Went down around markets to get jobs; about four of us used to go together.”
“Didn’t like to be in there sitting down.”
“Didn’t like to study.”
“Have to sit quiet as can be all day.”
“Went to wharves to see them take out fish.”
“Ran away to go swimming and nutting.”
“Ran to go to the circus.”