New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-16
From Grshan's Magazine for June
TUE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

clad tired looking woman. about eleven clock one
sultry June morning. She was passing hand
some house in 81 slnut street into the Windows Of
which she looked earnestly in the hope Of seeing
the fare Of a customer She I'D rot look in vain
for the shril sound Of her voice brought forward
lady dressed in a silk morning wrapper. who
beckonod her ~ stop. Toe woman liftea the heavy
tray from her head, and placing It upon the door
step. sat WEAKLY down.
What the price Of your strawberries T. asked
the lady, az she came - the door.
Ten cents & box. madam. They are right
fresh.
Ten cents replied the lady 10 a tone OF sur
Prise. drawing herself up and looking grave. Then
sinking her head. and COMPRISING her lps hrnily'
she added
Il can't give ten cents for strawberries It's
too much
"You can't get such strawberries as.these for
less. madam" said the woman Il got levy a
box for them yesterday.
Then YOU got too much that's all I've got 10
say. | never pay such prices bought strawber-
ries in market yesterday inst as good as yours for
eight cents box.
Il don't know how they do'to sell them at that
price." returned the woman. Nine cost nearly
eight cents, and ought 10 bring se at least twelve
But am willing t. take ten 20 that can sell ont
quickly It's very hot day And the woman
wiped with her apron, the perspiration from her
glowing face.
NO, won't pay ten ceuts, said the lady ~
coldly. "Tll give yOu forty cents Tor i've quarts,
and nothing more
But madam they cost me within tride OF
eight cents quart.
IL can't help that You paid TOO much for them.
and this must be your loss, not mine, II buy your
strawberries. | never pay for other peoples mis-
takes | understand the use OF money much better
than that"
The poor woman did not feel very well. The
bo. lf~x- and her eli
heavier aud tired her more than usual Five
boxes would tighten it, and ii she sold her berries
at eight cents she would clear two cents and
half and that made her something.
"Tn tell Won what | will do she said, after
thinking a few moments; don't feel as well as
usual today, and my tray ia heavy. Five boxes
sold will be something. You shall have them at
nine cents. They cost me seven and a halt. and
I'm sure it's worth cent and q bali box to cry
them about the streets such hot weather as this
Il have told you, my good woman, exactly what
/ will do" said the customer, with dignity. I'll
YOU are Willing to take what offer you, say so, II
not. we need Mt stand here any longer.
"Wel. suppose YOU will have 10 take them,
replied the strawberry woman, seeing that there
was no hope OF doing better. d" Butts too hltle.
ITS enough" said the lady. as she turned to
call servant Five boxes Of fine large straw
berries were received, and forty cents paid Tor
them The lady reentered the psror, pleased at
her good bargain, while the poor woman turned
from the door sad aud dishesrtened. She walked
nearly the distance OF square before she could
trust her voice to utter the moootonous cry OF
"Strawb' reesl Strawbrees -
An hour afterward friend called upon Mrs
Mier, the lady who had bought the strawberries
After talking about various matters and things in
teresting 10 lady housekeepers Mrs Mier said
How much did YOU pay for strawberries this
morning."
Ten cents
lyon paid too much bought them for eight
For eight Were they good onesl'
Step into the dining room and / will show
them TO you"
The ladies' stepped into the dining room when
Mrs. Mier displayed her large, red berries, which
were really much finer than she hal ct first sup
posed them 10 be.
You did n get them for eight cents, remarked
the visitor incredulODsly.
Eyes ! did. | paid forty cents for i've quarts
While paid fifty for some not near so good
81 suppose you paid just what you were asked
Yes / always do that. buy from one woman
during the who agrees 70 furnish me 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"
You always buy in market
Il bought these from a woman at the door
did she only ask eight cents for them "
ooh mol She asked ten cents, and pretended
that she got twelve and half for the same quality
of berries yesterday But | never give these
people what they ask
well never can find Il in my heart to ask
poor tired looking woman ut my door, to take
cent less for her fruit than she ASKS me a cent
OF two. while IL is of little account . me, must be
Of great importance 70 her
You are very poor economist ! see salh
Mrs Mier eff that is the way you deal with
every one. your husband no doubt finds his ex-
pense account very serious Item
Il do MT know about that. He never complains
He allows me a certain sum every week 10 keep
the house, and find my own and the childrens
clothes and so far from ever calling on him Tor
more ] always have fity or hundred dollars
lying by me-
You must have a precious large allowance
then, considering your want OF economy IN paying
every body lust what they ask for their things
ooh. mo- | do MT do that exactly, Mrs. Mier
If | consider the price OF thing too high do MT
buy it."
Perhaps / did although ] am by no means
certain
"You can Judge for yourself Mine cost but
eight cents, and you that they are superior to
yours at ten cents
Still, yours may have been too cheap instead
Of mine too dear"
Too cheap! That's funny! never saw any
thing too CHEAP In nv life. The great trouble -,
that every thing is too dear What do you mean
by too cheap"
THE person who sold them 10 you may not have
made profit enough upon them 10 pay Tor her time
and labor ii this were the case, she sold them
10 you too cheap
Suppose she paid too high Cox theml Is the
purchaser to pay for her error"
Whether she did So il would be hard 10 tell
and even if she had made such mistake, think
il would be more Just snd humane 70 pay her
price that would give her fair profit, instead oil
taking from her the means Of buying bread Tor her
children. At least this is my way OF reasoning
And a precious lot Of money II must take
to support such a system OF reasoning But how
much. pray. do you have week To keep the family
am curious 20 know
Thirty FIVE dollars
"Thirty-ive dollars You are lesting
"Oh. no. That IS exactly what | receive and
as have said. l find the sum ample
While | receive fifty dollars week said
Mrs Mier and am forever calling on my husband
10 settle some bill or other for me. And yet
never pay the exorbitant prices asked by every
BODY for ever thing. l am strictly economical IN
my family. While other people pay their dones-
tics dollar and half and two dollars week.
give but dollar and quarter each to my cook
and chambermaid. and require the cbsmbermaid 70