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When I had saved what I considered enough money with which to reach Hampton, I started again. Without any unusual occurrence I reached Hampton, with a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin my education. To me it had been a long, eventful journey; but the first sight of the large, three-story, brick school building seemed to have rewarded me for all that I had undergone in order to reach the place. The sight of it seemed to give me new life. I felt that a new kind of existence had now begun -- that life would now have a new meaning.
等我觉得自己攒的钱够去汉普顿了，就再度启程。一路顺利地到达了汉普顿，这时我身上只剩五十美分，这就是我的教育资金了。对我而言，这趟旅程漫长而曲折，但一看到宏伟的三层砖房教学楼，我就觉得一路所吃的苦都是值得的。看见它，仿佛给我注入了新的生命。我感觉，新的生活已经开始了，从此我的生命将有新的意义。
As soon as possible after reaching the grounds of the Hampton Institute, I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class. Having been so long without proper food, a bath, and change of clothing, I did not, of course, make a very favourable impression upon her, and I could see at once that there were doubts in her mind about the wisdom of admitting me as a student. I felt that I could hardly blame her if she got the idea that I was a worthless loafer or tramp. For some time she did not refuse to admit me, neither did she decide in my favour, and I continued to linger about her, and to impress her in all the ways I could with my worthiness. In the meantime I saw her admitting other students, and that added greatly to my discomfort, for I felt, deep down in my heart, that I could do as well as they, if I could only get a chance to show what was in me.
我到了汉普顿学院后就尽快找到校长，请她给我安排班级。不过，那么久都没有好好吃过东西，也没有洗澡、换衣服，我当然不能给她留下什么好印象，我立刻就看出来她心里在怀疑，录取我是不是一件明智的事。我觉得，就算她认为我是个一无是处的懒人或流浪汉，我也不能怪她。有一阵子，她没有拒绝录取我，但也没有同意，我于是继续在她周围晃来晃去，使出浑身解数让她对我产生好感。与此同时，看到她录取别的学生，我感到很难受，因为在内心深处，我觉得，只要给我机会让我展示自己，我也能像他们一样出色。
