The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-16


 ed. as though we had sorely offended him.
 'I thought Peggy began. You are wrong" snapped the Butter Man." if you think that I AM trying to keep the prices up from sheer depravity, or because I have a grudge against the human race. I keep it up because MUST. I get this butter all the way from Tennessee Freight is high; cows are scaree3 pastures gone; feed enormously high. What can poor man do? At 40 cents a pound I am almost GIVING it away
 'It may sound like GIVING to YOU, but to ME it sounds like a powerfully good pmce.' said Peggy, hufflly.
 The Butter Man utterly disregarded her badinage.
 How much do you suppose I need?" asked Peggy, turning to me. "You see, ali those people are coming in tomorrow for dinner and nearly everything has 10 be cooked in butter besides that which will be used individually and all the other things?"
 "Three pounds" said she, presently, turning 10 the Butter Man, who fixed it up right before her eyes and put it in the basket as though he were performing a sacrifice.
 | "It's cheaper than MEAT at any rate, i said the Butter Man, much pleased as he poc1eted the amount coming to him. 1 Look at all the fresh vegetables" said Peggy, jubilantly, as we passed on to the other end of the block, where the largest assortment of edibles in this line was to be had.
 i've never been so popular in my life, 2 said the Vege table Man affaby, as we ap- preached him. People who haven't eaten vegetables for years are eating them now. because meat and butter and eggs and fish and everything else is so high and vegetables so cheapl"
 '.rhe Lord be Praisedr' said Peggy. 'I'm glad we've found ONE thing that is CHEAP. How much are your Green Peppers?"
 dozen." said the Vegetable Man proudly"
 "a dozen.' Peggy exclaimed, as if she'd been shot "A short time ago you could buy them for. almost half that amount" l These arc the hot house variety said | the Vegetable Man, like he knew every thing on earth" and they are more ex- pensivc. You can't expect Green Peppers I at this season of the year to be any cheaper, surely"
 | q suppose we must have them," said Peggy. as she enumerated what she had planned for her dinner. | ., she, 'and then we'll want some Grape F. uit and some Tomatoes. But wait q minute let me look in my purse"
 For Heavens Sake,'' l heard her cry. What on earth is the natter I asked | quickly. Have you a sudden attack of vertigo or Heart Failure or what?"
 Its none of those things said she de- spairingly. T have no money left, and We haven't a thing to eat for dinner for | al those people who are coming to my house tomorrow evening-to say nothing of breakfast tomorrow morning, or jlunch'
 "spose We trade off the Green Peppers and the Grape Fruit for turnips and | potatoes,' I suggested. "They are bound to be cheaper. and besides they'll do for | lunch, too.'
 Ana taking my suggestion kindly, she handed back the Green Peppers and Grape Fruit and the Vegetable Man handed her d measly little bunch of three withered turnips, saying: These are 15 cents T refuse to pay it." Peggy said em- phatically "Turnips are she very com monest vegetables in the Market. and here they are, putting on airs and asking nigh prices for themselves just like they were Brussels Sprouts or Asparagus, | Once Peggy said as we left in dis gust, "$5 would buy enough food to last an ordinary family week, but now there is no such thing as the FULL MARKET BASKET for anybody but MILLION l AIRE."