Each room had a grate, and I carried up kindling and coal for all of them.
For this work I received a dollar a day, with two meals (dinner and supper) and was permitted to carry away from the kitchen all the cooked food that remained after the guests had eaten.

This privilege had grown out of the custom of the colored help in the South having their "man" to feed.

I had several men to feed.

My "gang" was still looking for work and not finding any.

Times were desperate.