The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-30
ALL IN PENNIES.
A Locality Where the Struggle for TX
ist0nce is Hard.

IRON me New D DIX Herald.
Cherry Hin is shrouded in the sonlber
gloon Of approaching dawn. Il is always
dark Ia the narrow street after shutdown.
but the lights which steal from the stained
windows OF the saloons and tenements on
either side Offset the grewsome shadows
OF the dark and yawnig alleys in the early
night Now they are gone, aud the silence
Is broken only now ana then by the groans
and mumhling Of a drunken wretch
who has fallen helplessly In doorway.
A brisk step is heard at the corner. The
figure OF a man passes swiftly up the
street. He pausSs at a small grocery store.
unlocSs the door. takes down the shutters
and lights the gas inside. His Teutonic
features are bright AMI shining and his
fair skin bears a glow shat betolIens a
recent application OF cold water ana a
coarse towel
1t is 5 o'clock. One by one the tenement
windows reflect the light OF lamps and
candles. Cherry Hill Is waking up Those
who live i'm the haunts of hunger and pri-
walton are preparing for the toll and hard
ship another day is 10 bring them.
Hardly has Herman begun his task when
a froWsy-headed hoy. half-dressed. and
with shoes unlaced. stumbles through the
doorway. lie carries a small tin pail
Say, Herman" he cries. as he walks
wort er milk an half a dozen rolls Hully
gee, it's cold! De ole man nearly broke
me nut draggin' me out sayn' the little
Cherry Hin grocery store Is open fer yer?
Arr you're a stingy bloke."
lie slaps cents on the counter, picks
up his rolls and Kettle OF milk and hur-
ries out whistling sweet Marie" with
variations according to his conception of
the melody. and-the little Cherry Hill
grocery store is open for the day.
As YOU LOOK around you see little Of
pretty nearly everything else you can
think of that human beings have to use,
ana covered boxes and barrels denote the
presence Of other things you would never
even guess. The shelves are brlmming
over with all sorts of boxes and cans, with
tomatoes, baking powders and washing
compounds leading In point Of classified
numbers
A frail little woman. clasping a thin
black shawl tightly about her shoulders.
enters noiselessly. The cares Of mother
hood and a life of ceaseless toll are
stamped upon her features. She briRgs to
View a small pitcher, with spout and
handle gone, ana places il on the counter.
Good morning. Herman she says.
Three cents worth OF milk this morning.
and cents worth Of coffee" To this
are added two slices Of fresh pork and six
rolls.
Three, six. sixteen, twenty-one," counts
Herman briskly. Then hands her four
pennies change, which she places In her
mouth.
Breakfast for four!
Good morning, Mr.. O'Mara." says Her
man, as a thin, sparely-built man comes
IN What will you have?'
Ten cents worth of potatoes, cents
worth OF onions, and paper OF tobacco.
He gets the tobacco first, and then, lean-
ing against a barrel, slows away a gener-
Gus hngerful Herman writes UP the
charges In a greasy little account book.
black win age, that came from the mans
rs that all, Mr.. o'Mara?"
We'll no." is the reply. "I wanted
some-but never mind now. Ill come
down for IL after awhile" That Is the
way they shop in Cherry Hin. SO Her
man hands the book over without word.
Even then O'Mara remained in the store
over an hour talking politics with Her
man during dun spells and chatting with
with a loud Halo. Herman how's
tings2' the type of the east side tough
girl enters. Not bad girl-simply nat
ural, and In keeping with her surround
ings. Born on Murray Hill. she would be
an ingenue.
The dummy makes a mock attempt at
kissing her. Her fist lands on his neck,
sending him spinning, and he laughs
coarsely and pretends he Is hurt.
Get out. you bumE she says. I'm
make yer dizzy If yer come near me.
Then, in the same breath. the incidnet
entirely forgotten, Say, Herman, gimme
two cents wort OF starch"
She fips two pennies upon the counter,
makes a jab at Herman as he hands her
the package, and is about to leave when
she spies n basket Of apples.
Say, Herman, gimme an appleY' She
picks one up and Is about to bite It,
Gent apiece. says Herman.
We'll, you won't get no cent from me-"
Arr, il yer put 1t down I'll crack yer
yes I Will"
She throws the apple back, and gets as
far al the door The temptation Is too
great. She comes back, takes the apple,
bites a big piece and says dehantly:
We'll, put it down II you want ter Wat
do 1 care2'
The apple Is charged. and the incident
serves to strengthen rather tEan break
the business relations of the two.
A this point the young wife comes in
with a cup, and gets the mustard from the
brown stone Jar on the butter chest.
The next customer, a pleasant faced
woman Of middle age, greets the man
leaning against the barrel
GOOD morning. Mr.. O'Mara, and how's
the wife and little ones? / haven't seen
much or her lately,
Il keep her in now" says O'Mara. I'm
afraid Of losing her"
"WeIl, good citizens are scarce these
days" she replies with a twinkle
"a nd SO is good money" retorts O'Mara
AS the shadows of early evening deepen,
Herman finds time to become COMMUNE
Cative.
''Do they pay their bills? Yes, indeed,
most Of them do. The accounts are not
allowed to run over 81, and must be set
tied at least once "A week. You see, we
know all the customers pretty well, and
we only refuse persons who are trying to
cheat us The biggest trade Is In coal,
potatoes, bread, ham and milk. Most of
the ham Is sold by the slice, and yet I
sell about two cooked hams a day, and
sometimes more. The business amounts
n a bout S90 a dawn pauUipep