After that, they tried everything to keep me from learning to read. But what my mistress had given me was an inch. And nothing and nobody could stop me from getting the ell.
I had to use all manner of cunning. The one method that was the most successful was to make friends with as many of the little white street boys as possible. They were hungry and I was able to get bread from the house. So in return for bread they were willing to give me the bread of knowledge. I also carried a spelling book with me. And when I was on errands or had any play time, I would get my little friends to give me a spelling lesson.