4

- 4-

still black and thick around the edge of his head has left his
head bald in the center.

When Clarissa told him that a lady had come to see him, he
smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgment, then held out his
hand to Clarissa for the papers.

Putting on his glasses he began to read. Clarissa felt that
he was not polite, and explained how he always waited for the
paper, for all he could do usually was to sit and read.

"Mr.Hollie, dis lady wants to know something ob your life,
why you come to America."

"He then laid his paper down, and began to talk, but so
brokenly that Clarissa had to repeat what he said.

He never married he said, never had time to dance and go
to parties; always workied. He seemed very much amused when asked
why he drank or made wine, like the most of Frenchmen do.

Clarissa said she helped Mr.Hollie repair his house and
build the grape arbors. She said that the sale of their fruit
was the only income they had. She had tried to get the old-age
pension for his, but they would not give it to him unless he
signed over his place to them, and that he refused to do. She
said she had been paying the taxes on his place herself with
money left her by a sister who had died in New Orleans.

Clarissa is a low, bright, Negro woman of mixed blood, and
is very intelligent. She complained of how people refused to
help Mr. Hollie. However, she seemed able to manage, for she
said she had two white men outting down two pine trees on Mr.

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