When I was five years old it became necessary for me to attend school, and according to the prevailing laws of that time, I had to be vaccinated before entering school. This incident I recall very vividly. Mother took me to our family doctor, old Dr. Martens, and I still remember the strenuous protest on my part. But by nice talk and alluring promises, I finally consented.

In our village we did not have a Christian school in connection with our Christian Church**, but there was a state school or public school, and a Christian National School sponsored by the Friends of Truth, a faction of the Reformed Church. After a consultation with our pastor, Rev. John TenHoor, who said it was better to have a half of an egg than an empty shell, it was decided that I should attend the Christian school. In spite of the good advice of our minister, many children of our church did not attend the Christian school, but rather the state school. But to this late day I am grateful and thankful for the Christian instruction I received at this school. The tuition was seven cents a week per child and this amount seemed to be sufficient, the rich farmers in the community making up the deficit if any. We had a good school master who’s name was Mr. Wessel, and was a native of Rotterdam. Every morning for half an hour we had bible stories after the master had opened the morning session with prayer, and after this, the regular school work: reading, writing and arithmetic, and on Friday afternoon, the life story of Martin Luther, or some other patriotic historical stories of interest. I also recall well the first song I learned at school.

I attended school until I was fourteen years old, and by this time it was important that I earn some money to help with the family budget. Like all boys of the village, I was hired to a farmer and had to work eleven hours a day, from 5 AM to 9 PM, then from 10 AM to 2 PM, and from 3 PM to 6 PM and all for thirty cents a day. This was not much but in those days a mans wages were only 75c per day. Even at this early age a friend of mine and myself attended a young mens society. Being too young to join as members, we were allowed to come as visitors. There was no boys society in our church.