“No miss, I didn’t always have all the catering business; oh, no.  There was Mr. Rossner.  He was a fine man.  White gentleman.  I used to help him a lot.  But when he sold out to Bott, I got a lot of what business Mr. Rossner had had, Mr. Bott was a Jew.  All that time my wife was my best helper.  I took a young colored fellow named Freeling Alexander and taught him the business.  He never been able to make it go on his own, but does fine working on salary.  He has a cafeteria now.

“Well thank you miss, speaking about my home like that.  Yes ma’am, I sure do own it.  Fifty-two years I been living right here.  First I bought the lot; it took me two years to pay for it.  Next I build a little house.  The big pin oak trees out front was only saplings when I set them out.  Come out in the back yard and see my pecan tree....  It is a giant, ain’t it?  Yes ma’am, it was a tiny thing when I set it out fifty-two years ago.  Our only child was born in this house,—­a dear daughter—­and her three babies were born here too.  After my wife and daughter died, me and the children kept on trying to keep the home together.  I have taught them the catering business.  Both granddaughters are high school graduates.  The boy is in Mexico.  Before he went he signed his name to a check and said:  “Here, grandpa.  You ain’t going to want for a thing while I’m gone.  If something happens to your catering business, or you get so you can’t work, fill this in for whatever you need.”  But thank the good Lord, I’m still going strong.  Nobody has ever had to take care of H.K.  Miller.  Now let me tell you something else about this place.  For more than ten years I have been paying $64.64 every year for my part of that asphalt paving you see out in front.  Yes ma’am, the lot is 50 foot front, and I am paying for only half of it; from my curb line to the middle of the street.  Maybe if I live long enough I’ll get it paid for sometime.

“I haven’t tried to lay by much money.  I don’t suppose there is any other colored man—­uneducated like me—­what has done more for his community.  I have given as high as $80 and $100 at one time to help out on the church debt or when they wanted to build.  I always help in times of floods and things like that.  I’ve helped many white persons in my lifetime.

“Well, now, I’ll tell you what I think about the voting system.  I think this.  Of course we are still in subjection to the white people; they are in the majority and have most of the government on their side.  But I think that, er,—­er,—­well I’ll tell you, while it is all right for them to be at the head of things, they ought to do what is right.  Being educated, they ought to know right from wrong.  I believe in the Bible, miss.  Look here.  This little book—­Gospel of St. John—­has been carried in my pocket every day for years and years.  And I never miss a day reading it.  I don’t see how some people can be so unjust.  I guess they never read their Bible.  The reason I been able to make my three-score years and ten is because I obeys what the Good Book says.