Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-12-07


The fortitude of Mr. Graham was total
Ily overcome The heavings of his be
som were convulsive. and the big drop
flowed abundantly down the most impre.
sive countenance ever beheld. "Wher
are these poor fugitives now to golr
! demanded of decent old man, as tn
Swanseys turned up the river road. :
"They are going to my house," said tn
stranger; "where they shall remain a
long as it is in my power TO protec
them; but. oh God of merciesl | am in
volved in the same gulf which has swol
lowed them. In few DAYS my family
may be also fugitives before these Trim
mings- Heaven forgive them A mos
energetic shake by the hand, from Mr.
Graham, stopped the aged speaker
Whatever reward may await the Trim
mings. yours shall be ample and beyond
your hopes" said Graham, as he agar
pressed the old mans hand. Quickly
however, gaining his self-command, he
turned to me and observed, at is time
we take our stand;'' and we walked
swiftly into the house, and with some
trouble gained seats near the sheritf's
table, in a few moments before the open
ing of the sale. Mine was by a window,
from which was full view of the front
OF the building, the river, and adjacent
shores The prospect was indeed pecu-
llarly fine. The advanced season had
dlsrobed the forests and embrowned the
gelds, but the bold outline evinced the
richness of the landscape when spring
had clothed it in green. The house, I'M
der every disadvantage, appeared to
have been the abode of more cultivated
elegance than ! would have expected to
find place very few years before a
forest. My examinations were soon in
terrupted. The sale of personals COM
menced, und, according TO my under
standing with Mr.. Graham, | bid for
every article; and for some time no
name but that of Mark Bancroft appear
ed on the clerks book. A few very
deep and witty young gentlemen, it ap
peared, finding my disposition to pur-
chase so keen, agreed to have some fun
at my expense. Their wit escaped nv
observation, but my more sagacious
friend perceived the plan, and turned it
most effectually on their own heads, by
leaving a number of articles in their
hands, at, In some cases, ten times their
value. This he effected by taking my
place In bidding, and kept up his com
with me, unpe received by the
crowd, with the aid of his pocket-book
and pencil. A lot of chairs, at one hum
dred dollars, which cost about twenty-five
broke the charm, and exposed the crest
fallen purchaser TO the unmereiful ieers
IT his coadJutors. who attempted TO con-
al hnf
him.
In fine, the personal property, with
hese trifing exceptions, became mine
'r, rather, became the trustee of Mr..
Graham. The amount of sales falling |
ar below the debts and costs, the land
vas next put up. "A fine farm; one of
he best in the countryi three hundred |
md twenty acres, highly improved; fifty
Icres of meadow; a fine orchard; an
elegant house as you may see. Who |
ids? A noble chance for an estate
Who bids?'' give hundred dollars"
a voice from the crowd. "a
thousand dollars" exclaimed |. ''Twelve
replied another voice. "You
re determined to have this farm by
ONE means or other," shrewdIy ex-
laimed the first bidder. "Mr Trim
ming is a persevering young man.
choed from one or two voices. The
cry name was enough for Mr.. Graham,
gho wrote fifteen hundred and held it in
he palm of his hand.-"Fifteen humid
ed" was repeated by me; and almost at
he same moment, "Two thousand"
anne from the lips of Trimming. Six
housand was written by Graham and
reclaimed by me. .'Eight thousand,
eight thousand, and the land
yours" jocularly observed a young
IAN. But Trimming began to feel
apprehensive of having his
anne placed on the same list with the
urchaser of the chairs-had his fears,
nd family bid six thousand five humid
ed. At this crisis Graham decided the
ontest, by pronouncing ten thousand
'hen the hand of the sheriff fell, and
imon Graham was recorded, and closed
ne sale.
The crowd now began to dispense.
ould perceive that few of the most
of the company were very
luch gratified at the result, when the
heriff read thirteen thousand seven hun
red and sixty-four dollars, as the "a
lount. But our attention was engrossed
" the old man to whose hospitable
ouse the destitute family of Swansey
ad retired. As soon as the opening
rowd would admit, he advanced and
eized our hands alternately. Not
'ord could escape from his mouth; his
cart was too highly swelled for utter
nee, but his looks bespoke ten thousand
lessings upon our heads To relieve
i'm and US, the sheriff advanced, and
nth much suavity addressed US, by OBJ
CRYING, s.Gentlemen you are, presume.
trangcrs to this place, but | hope may
OF remain SO: your presence has saved
most worthy family from total ruin
NE property is valuable, and worth the
honey you have engaged TO pay; but IN
ne present posture of our affairs, II IS
OF probable, if you had not interiered. I
hat more than one-third the sum would
ave been realized. | thea relinquish-
d my purchases to Mr.. Graham, who
bseryed to the sheriff, that he was rea-
" to receive his vouchers and pay over