Outline of My Life

Outline of My Life by Leonard W. Roberts I grew up in a log house (weatherboarded) in the edge of Floyd County about six miles from the village of Pikeville, Kentucky. I was able to lift a hoe at six, and from then on I trailed up the winding paths to the cornfield. I was not alone, there being six in the family older than I. Four more joined the winding procession as years came. About every week some of us boys (eight boys all told) would go to town with the weekly gatherings of eggs, and fruits or vegetables in season. One and a half miles from my home was the one-room school where I went to play houndand -hare and marbles. I don't remember ever having a very resourceful teacher. Our parents made us go to school, and would tell the teacher to "tan our jackets." Our father was stern and seldom conversed with us, except to give commands. He was a sawmiller with lots of "business" away from home, so he often said "Go boys" when it came to the farm work. As the older boys grew up, Pap took them to his sawmill to work. He left me to go to school, however, and to take care of the homeplace. I managed the farm pretty well, Leonard Roberts wrote the above essay shortly before graduating from Berea College in 1938. It was found in the Alumni Office files. and got through seven grades in the rural school. Then I went to stay in Pikeville to study. I was rooming with renters in one of my father's houses in the village. The house went for the mortgage against it and I returned to the country two months before finishing the grades. I had made outstanding marks while I was there, so my teacher sent for me at the end of school to take the finals and get a diploma. I passed easily and marched home with the paper. The next year I stayed with an aunt and walked two miles to a high school. The world opened up a little. I was like a terrapin peeping out of his shell. I saw the world was all rose-colored, and I wanted it. Soon after school was out I hoboed to Huntington, West Virginia, and joined the Army. I chose to go to Hawaii. I went out and got a bit of that world I wanted. My mountain background and ambitious spirit made me an expert with the army rifle, the hand grenade, the automatic rifle, and the bayonet in the combat squadron. I lived with men from all over the world. I learned about the vices and the strife on the earth. Upon returning, I finished at Pikeville High School in two years. Some of my brothers and sisters did light housekeeping with me in the town. I was among the five highest in my class of ninety-three in scholarship, though studying was incidental to my many outside activities. In the Army I got into the band for the last two of my three years service. I was in band and orchestra at school, took part in dramatics, debating, sports, and also played for dances about the country in a professional swing band. No relative or friend of mine had been to Berea. I had heard only a few faint reports about the institution. When I was accepted I wrote to the registrar: "You have extended to me my golden opportunity; I will do my best." Berea has given me four short years of herself. I have played in her gym and on her fields; I have mused in her music hall and in her art building. I have pursued English and music to try to slough off some of my rough edges. I have taken a teacher's course so I can help others to see what I have seen—a terrapin 's eye view of the world. I am the first of my people to have finished college. And now I will return to the hills. ...