Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-21
In Small Quantities.

4
That some persons are so poor or i'm
provident that they can buy only the
very smallest quantities of groceries,
even a pennys worth at time, is made
manifest by inquiries of grocers and
vendors in almost any of the poor quar-
tiers. In one of the stores a woman was
the vender. Her calico dress was new
and tidy, and Eer face and hands were
clean. Resignation was the principal
expression in her face. The counter.
behind which she stood, was at one side.
extending nearly to board part { on
dividing the room. Opposite the coun-
/ ter were a few boxes, barrels and bas-
kets, some full, but most of them emp
| ~. On the shelves along the walls
were tin and wooden boxes containing
| tea, coffee, spices and starch, and a
few bottles Of blue.ng. Hanging in con-
| spicuous places were advertising pla-
cards. Under one shelf was long
wooden box, about the size of a coal
box. but not so deep, divided into two
parts for brown and white sugar. On
one side of the counter was small plass
case, in which were few loayes of
bread, and adjoining it was a long mar
row one, holding cheap candies. At
the other end of the counter, and piled
high above it, was a quantity of kim
ding wood, while opposite it, leaving
only room for the door TO be opened.
were two large cans of kerosene oil and
one of molasses. On a shelf above them
were bars of brown soap. and the small
or cakes for laundry use.
Have YOU ever sold penny's worth
of tea?" she was asked.
81 have not, but l have heard of a
woman selling a cents worth and
measuring it by thimble. have never
sold less than an ounce, which would
cost four cents
Would you sell penny's worth if
called for?'
Yes, to oblige a customer. But |
should not as a rule sell it for it would
not pay me. / could not measure il ex-
actly, and would probably give more. l
have heard of selling cents worth of
molasses."
What is the least quantity of sugar
You sell?''
"a quarter of pound / sell very
often. That costs three cents"
''How about starch?''
Il usually sell half pound for three
cents, but sometimes person wants
several things and has not money
enough for all unless very small guam
titles are taken. Then sell quarter
of pound of starch, but I have to
charge two cents for it; so you see they
lose by it, and it costs them more to
live in the long rum"
Are people so poor that they are
obliged to buy such small quantities."
Not rs rule; but if they have
quarter, ten cents of it sometimes goes
for beer, while the rest of it will be
spent for necessary things"
do you cut n bar of soap?'
''Oh, yes. cut n large bar and sell
half for five cents, but if it is a small
cake l charge three cents. A woman
wanting to finish some washing will
often run in for three-cent piece.
while--'
Mother, can l have mouse?" an
eight-year-old child interrupted.
mo you can't, its the last one in the
case" referring to chocolate imitation
among the candies.
"Mother-n
"Stop! These children always want
something when l have a visitor. They
think | won't refuse them then. No, L
don't keep eggs. They bring five cents
apiece now, and 40 one in this neigh
borhood can buy them"
Do you trust?'
"SOme. / had one customer that used
to buy five-dollars' worth a week.
Sometimes she would paw for all. at
other times she would only pay in part.
For the past few weeks she has let il
run. 1 heard she was going to move,
and asked her to pay up, but she has
been putting me off. She saws it is too
far TO come to deal with me now; but
when she was hard up at times she did
not think it any trouble. My old man
is getting disguised. He saws he's
working to support other peop'e. If
she don't pay up soon I'll bring her up
to the crank
"Are there many such customers?"
Eyes, good many. / know a poor
widow who had to give up little gro
Gerry because she trusted too much. You
see, have to pay down for everything
that comes in the store. Although |
have dealt with my wood man for two
years, | have to pay for the wood rs
soon rs it j. piled on that floor 1t is
the same with the oil man. If should
owe fifteen cents on a can, and not have
the cash ready the minute it was on
that counter, he would take it right
out"
Another grocer in muh better
neighborhood said he had sold half
pailful of coal, also one egg, and very
often panny's worth of parsley, one
carrot, one leek, and one turnip; but,
of course, the vegetables are usually re-
quired for soup, and they are bought by
well-to-do people. The poor will often
buy partly decayed vegetables. cutting
out the good, thereby getting them for
almost nothing.-N Y. san.