Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Graham's Magazine for June.
THE STRAWBERRY-
by T. S. ARTHUR.

III f1N ''N hANA tAllAN NG -liE W
passing a handsome house ia Walnut stree
- into the windows of which she locked ca
; nestly. in the hope of seeing the face of
customer. She did not look in vain, for III
shriil sound Of her voice brought forward
lady, dressed in a silk mourning-wrappe
n who beckoned her TO stop. Tile woma
lifted the heavy tray from her head, an
C placing it upon the doorstep, sat wearil
down.
"Nhat's the price Of your strawberries
asked the lady. as she came TO e-door.
Ten cents a box, madam. They ar
right fresh"
Ten cents!" replied the lady, in a ton
= of surprise, drawing herself mp and looking
grave. Then shaking her head, and com
pressing her lips firmly, she added
~ can't give ten cents for strawberries
It's too much"
\ on cant get such strawberries as ihes,
Tor less, madam" said the woman. ~ 90
a levy a box for them yesterday"
"lhen you got too much, that's all | hav,
TO say never pay such prices. ] bough
strawberries IN market yesterday, just a.
good as yours, for eight cents a box.''
81 don't know how they do to sell them
ut that price," returned the woman. "MIine
cost nearly eight cents, and ought TO brino
me at least twelve. But | an willing TO taxi
Ten, so that ] can sell out quickly. It's n
very hot day." And the woman wiped. with
her apron, the pcrsPiratiCn from her glowing
face. e
NO, won't pay ten cents" said the la
dy ~ coldly. an give you forty cents for
hve quarts, and nothing more"
But, madam, they cost me within a
trlfe of eight cents a quart"
81 can't help that. You paid too much
for them. and this must be your loss. moi
mine, if buy your strawberries. I never
pay for other peoples mistakes. under
stand the use Of money much better than
that"
The poor woman did not feel very we'll
The day was unusually hot and sultrv. and
her tray felt heavier, and tired her more than
usual. Five boxes would tighten it. and if
she sold her berries at eight cents. she would
clear two cents and a half, and that made her
something"
"l1l tell You what I'll do" she said, af.
ter thinking a few moments 81 don't feel
as well as usual to-day, and my tray is hca-
w. Five boxes sold will be Something
You shall have them at nine cents. They
cost me seven and a half, and | am sure it's
worth a cent and a half a box to cry them
about the streets such hot weather as this"
81 have told you, my good woman, ex-
aclly what | will do" said the customer,
with dignity. eff you are willing 10 take
what offer you, say so, if not, we needn't
stand here any longer
swell, ! suppose you will have 10 take
lhem," replied the strIwberry-woman, seeing
that there was no hope of doing BETTER
I" But it's too %li,tle.'
"lts enough" said the lady. as she turn
ed to call a servant. Five boxes of fine large
strawberries Were received. and forty cents
paid for them. The lady re.entered the par
Tor, pleased at her good bargain, while the
poor woman turned from the door sad and
disheartened. She walked nearly the dis
lance of a square before she could trust her
voice to utter her monotonous cry of
"Strawb'reeS! Strawb'rees!"
An hour afterward, a friend called uron
Mrs. Mier, the lady who had bought the
strawberries. After talking about various
matters and things interesting to lady house.
keepers, Mrs. Mier said
"How much did you pay for strawberries
this morning"
"Ten cents"
lyon paid too much. l bought them for
eight"
"For eight! Were they good ones?
"Step into the dining.room and l will
show them TO YOU"
The ladies stepped into the dininr-room.
when Mrs. Mier displayed her large, red ber-
ries, which were really much finer than she
had al first supposed them to be-.
"fou didn't get them for eigh, cents,'' re.
marked the visiter incredulously.
eyes did. ! paid forty cents for five
quarts.
"While ! paid fifty for some not near so
good"
81 suppose you paid just what you were
asked
eyes, always do that. I buy from one
woman curing The season, who agrees to fur
nlsh nc at The regular market price,
(Which You will always find TO be two
or three cents above what you can get them
for in the market"
lyon always buy in the market"
81 bought these from a woman al the
door,"
ibid she only ask eight cents for them !"
"Oh no! She asked ten cents, and pre.
tended that she got twelve and a half for the
same quality Of berries yesterday. But |
never give these people what they ask"
Whlle never can find it in my heart To
ask a poor, hred-looking woman at INV door
10 lake n cent less for her fruit than she asks
me. A cent or two, while il is of little ac.
count 10 me, must be of great importance to
her." "
fou are a very poor economist, | see."
said Mrs. Mier. "If that is the way Won
deal with every one, your husband no doubt
hnds his expense account a very serious
- don't know about that. He never com.
plains. lie allows me a certain sum evorv
week to keep the house, and find nv own
and the children's clothes; and SO far f,orn
ever calling on him for more. / always baya
hity or a hundred dollars lying by me-"
"fou must have a precious LARGE aIlo,,
ance men, considering your want Of econo.