Page:Women of distinction.djvu/328

256

One of the first eleven daughters of "Spelman Seminary," of whom we may say, "They bore the heat and burden of the day." When Rev. Quarles had gotten his people's brick structure for worship completed he began to pray for a school in Atlanta which would be solely for girls and women of color. One happy day, while he was on his knees praying thus, a rap called him to his feet, and at the door of his study he found two God-sent women. Misses Packard and Giles, whose hearts longed to do just the work for which he had been praying. They told him their desire. He told them his story, and added: "I have had His promise, 'And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.' I was just on my knees praying for such a school." He then told them that he would open his basement to such a school, and do all in his power to help them. On the eleventh day of April, 1881, Spelman Seminary was born in the above-mentioned basement. Few were present, but they mark the birthday of an institution to be the Alma Mater of this our subject.

This life began at Greenville, Ga., January 23, 1866. She is the only daughter of King and Mary Ann Howard. The first thing this child astonished her parents in was her advanced conduct as a babe; she appeared to notice everything about her. The day on which she