New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-16

Although the tray OF the poor straw berry woman,
when she passed from the presence Of Mrs Mier,
was lighter by FIVE boxes, her heart was heavier,
and that made her steps more weary than before.
The next place at which she stopped, she found
the same disposition 10 beat her down in her price.
I'm give you nine cents and take four boxes.
ssid the laiy.
Indeed maisrn. that IS too little replied the
woman, ten cents IL the lowest AZ which can
sell them and make even reasonable proht
"Wel. say thrty-seyen and ahsf for four
boxes. and viii take them. IL is only Two cents
and a half less than you ask for them.
Give ne ftp. mal-there comes the candy
man 90 exclaimed little fellow, pressing up to the
side of the lady. Quick. ma! Here candy
man calling after an old man with tin cylinder
under his arm thst looked something ike an ice
cream freezer. The lady drew out her purse and
searched among its contents for the small coin her
child wanted.
Il have mt anything less than levy, she at
length said.
oh, well he can change ii. Candy msn, you
can change levyl'
B. this time the candy man stood smiling be.
side the strawberry woman. As he was counting
out the fps worth Of candy, the child spoke up In
an earnest voice and said
Get n LEWIS worth, mother do, won't you
Cousin Lus coming 70 see us tomorrow
lie. him have a levy's worth, candy man. He's
such rogue | can't resist him, responded the
paid when the man retired IN bis usual good humor
shall take these strawberries for thirtySseven
and ahalf cents said the lady, the smile fading
from her face 1t is all am willing to give.
Il you won't pay any more. must n stand for
two cents and a.halG" replied the woman. . al
though they would nearly buy loaf OF bread Tor
the children" she mentally added.
The four boxes were sold tor the sum offered, aud
the woman lifted tho tray upon her head and
moved on again. The sun shone out stu hotter
and hotter as the day advanced. Large beads OF
perspiration rolled from the throbbing temples OF
the strawberry woman, as she passed YEARLY up
one street and down another crying her fruit at the
top of her voice. At length all were sold but iye
boxes and now Ii was past one o'clock. Long be-
fore this she ought to have been at home. FAINT
from over.exertion, she lifted her tray from her
head, and placing it upon doorstep, sat down to
rest As she sat thus. lady came up and paused
at the door Of the house as II about TO enter.
"You look tired, my good woman she SAID
kindly This is a very hot day for such hard
work yours. How do you sell your straw
berriesW
Il ought to have ten cents for them, but nobody
seems willing TO give ten cents today, although
they are very fine, end cost me as much as some
| have got twelve and a hall Tor.
How many boxes have your
Five am.
They are very ine sure enough" said the lady,
STOPPING down and examining them and well
worth ten cents. Iltake them
"Thauky ma'am ! was afraid should have
to take them home said the woman, her heart
bounding up lightly
The lady rang the bell, tor il was at her door
that the tired strawberry woman had stopped b.
rest herself While she was waiting for the door
to be opened the lady took from her purse the
money for the strs wberries and handing It to the
woman, said,
Here is your money. Shall tell the servant
to bring you glass of cool water You are hot
and tired
"If you please, ma am said the woman, with
a grateful look.
The water was sent out by the servant who was
10 receive the strawberries, and the tired woman
drank il eagerly. It's refreshing GOODNESS howed
through every vein and when she took up her tray
to return home. both heart and step were lighter.
The lady. whose benevolent feelings had prompt
ed her to the performance OF this little act oil KIND
ness. could not help remembering the woman
grateful look. She had not done mucb-not more
than it was every ones duty TO do but the recol-
lection of even that was pleasant far more pleas
ant than could possibly have been Mrs Miers self
aratulations at having saved ten cents on her pur
chase of ive boxes Of strawberries notwlthstand-
ing the assurance OF the poor woman who vended
them, that at the reduced rate her profit on the
whole would only be two cents and a hall.
After dinner Mrs Mier went out and spent thirty
dollars in purchasing ewelry for her eldest daugh
ter, young lady not yet eighteen years OF age
That evening. at the teatabe, the Strawberries
were highly commended as being the largest and
most delicious in flavor Of any they had yet had
ia reply 70 which, Mrs Mier stated, with an air OF
peculiar satisfaction. that she had got them for
eight cents a box when they were worth at least
ten cents
THE woman asked me ten cents she said,
"but offered her eight, and she took IT.
While the family Of Mrs Mier were enjoying
their pleasant repsst the strawberry woman sat AT
small table. around which were gathered three
Young children the Oldest but six years OF age.
She had started ont IN the morning with thirty
boxes of strawberries for which she was to pay
seven and ahalf cents a box. II all had brought
the ten cents box, she would have made seventy
five cents bat such was not the case. Rich ladies
had beaten her down in her price-had chartered
with her for the few pennies Of profits 10 which her
hard labor entitled her-and actually robbed her
of the meager pttance She strove 20 earn TOT her
children. Instead OF realizing the small sum oi
seventy Eve cents, she had cleared only iouy'hVe
cents With this she bought little Indian meal
and moasses for her own and her chldrens supper
and breakfast.
As she sat with her children. eating the only
food she was able 10 provide for them, and thought
of what had occurred during the day ieehny OF
bitterness toward her kind came over her but the
remembrance of the kind words, and the glass OF
cool water. so timely and thou ghtiuIy rendered to
her. was ike leaven in the waters Of Msrsh. Her
heart soltened and with the tears stealing 70 her
eyes she glanced upward. and asked blessing on
her who had remembered that, though poor she
was still human.
Economy Is a good thing, and should be prac'
ticed by all but IL should show Itself IN denying
ourselves, not ia depressing others. We see per
sons spending dollar after dollar iooishy one hour
and in the next trying TO save five penny piece
Of a wood sawyer cOal-heayer, or msFkeE-woman
Such things are disgracelul, if not dishonest