Page:Women of distinction.djvu/329

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.
257

was eight months old she stood on her feet and walked. This was too much for the fond parents to keep to themselves. Their daughter soon showed a disposition to be alone, and this gave them much concern, as they feared she would grow up to make a selfish woman. At the age of six she began her school life, becoming a member of the Haines street public school.

She advanced rapidly as the years rolled on, and after four years here entered a private institution known as the Staw School of Atlanta. Two years fitted this aspiring pupil to enter the well-known Atlanta University. She was studying at this latter when the above ladies arranged with "Father Quarles" to use his church basement as a school-room.

The father of our subject being a deacon in that church at his death, the dear widowed mother had brought up her sons and daughter faithful to the Church, and they had been gathered in while young. "Father Quarles" baptized this Daughter of the King in 1881. Miss Howard left the University to take up her studies with ten humble pupils in the basement. She advanced as Spelman advanced, and graduated with the first class in the history of the school, May, 1887. Being a widow's daughter, Miss Howard had to work hard during her school-days, even working late at night. Her mother and brothers disliked seeing her under such pressure and used to urge her to retire with them. Her reply would always be, "Do not worry about me; I have an object in view, and will have to work to make it; I have to finish my education, and will have to work to do it." This