Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-07-20
Wayne County, Indiana, July go, is1s.

Precipitation rolled from the throbbing temples of
the strawberry woman, as she passed YEARLY up
one street ami down another. crying her fruit at
he top of her voice. At length all sold
but five boxes, and now /, was past one O'Clock
Long before this she ought to have been at home
Faint from over-exerton, she lifted her tray
from her head, and placing it upon doorstep,
sat down to rest As she sat thus. a lady came
up, and paused at the door of the house if q
bout to enter.
"You look tired, my good woman" she said
kindly. "This is very hot day for such hard
work yours How DO you sci! your straw ber-
RESP
81 ought TO have ten cents for them, but no.
body seems willing to give ten cents to- day, al
though they very fine, ami cost much
as some 1 have got twelve and a-half "a
Chow many boxes have you!"
Give, ma'am.'
'They are very fine, sure enough, - said the
lady, STOPPING down and examining them; "and
we'll worth ten cents. I'll take them"
"Thanky. ma'am. was afraid should have
TO take them home said the woman, her heart
bounding up lightly.
The lady rang the bell, for il was at her door
that the tired strawberry woman had stopped to
rest herself. While she waiting for the
door to be opened, the lady took from her purse
the money for the strawberries aud handing it
to the woman, said,
"Here is your money. Shall | tell the servant
to bring you glass of cool water? You hot
and tired
aft you please, ma am" said the woman, with
grateful look
The water was sent out by the servant who
was to receive the strawberries and the tired
man drank it eagerly. Its refreshing GOODNESS
flowed through every vein, and when she took
up her tray to return home, both heart ana step
lighter.
The lady, whose benevolent feelings had
prompted her to the performance of this little
act of Kindness, could not help remembering the
woman's grateful look She had not done much
not more than it was every ones duty to do
but the recollection of even that pleasant
far more pleasant than could possibly have been
Mrs. Mer's self CALCULATIONS at having saved ten
cents on her purchase of five boxes of strawber
ries, notwithstanding the assurance of the poor
woman who vented them, that, at the reduced
rate, her profit the whole would only be two
cents and a-half.
After dinner Mrs. Mer went ont and spent
thirty dollars in purchasing ewelry for her eldest
daughter, young lady not yet eighteen years of
age. That evening, at the tea-table, the straw
berries were highly commended being the
'argest and most delicious in flavor of any they
had yet had; in reply TO which, Mrs. Mier stated,
witt, air of peculiar satisfaction, that she had
got them for eight cents box, when they were
worth at least ten cents.
'.Ihe woman asked ten cents" she said i,
..but offered her eight and she took it,
While the family of Mrs. Mier were ENJOYING
their pleasant repast the strawberry woman sat
at small table, around which were gathered
three young children, the oldest but six years of
age. She had started out in the morning with
thirty boxes Of strawberries, for which she was
to pay seven and a-half cents box. If all mad
brought the ten cents a box, she would have made
seventy five cents; but such not the case
Rich ladies had beaten her down in her price
had chartered with her for the few pennies Of
profit TO which her hard labor entitled her-and
actually robbed her Of the meagre pittance she
strove to for her children. Instead Of reaIi-
zng the sum Of seventyive cents she had clear
ed only forty-tive cents. With this she bought
tltlie luuldn meal ana t00ldSSeS Tor her OW II ana
her childrens supper and breakfast.
As she sat with her children, eating the only
food she able to provide for them, and tho't
of what had occurred during the day, a feeling of
bitterness toward her kind came over her, but
the membrance of the kind words and the glass
of cool water, so timely and thoughtfuily ten.
dered to her, like leaven in the waters Of Ma
rah. Her heart softened, and with the tears
stealing to her eyes, she glanced upward, and
asked blessing her who had remembered
that, though poor, she was still human.
Economy is good thing, and should be prac-
ticed by all, but it should show itself in denying
ourselves, not in depressing others. We see per-
sons spending dollar after dollar foolishly one
hour, and in the next trying to fve-penny
piece of wood sawyer, coal-heaver, or market
woman. Such things are disgraceful, if not dis
honest Grahans Magazine.
1t is stated that the number Of mines i n
Mexico. already known. Is between three
and four thousand. The larges, yield in
any one year, was S25.644.56j in 1905;
and for some years previous TO 1910. the
average annual yield was S24 100000.