Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-06

the sofa look fifty percent. worse than it re
ally was. When the sale commenced ther
happened TO be but few persons there, and
asked the auctioneer to sell the sofa first, as
wanted to go, and would bid for it ifitwer,
sold then. Few persons bid freely at the o
peHng ola sale.''
"What's bid for this splendid sofa?'' h,
began.
ON give you fifteen dollars for it," said
sits not worth n ore than that. for it's dread
fully abused.''
Fifteen dollars! fifteen dollars only fif
teen dollars for this beautiful sofa - he went
on; and man next to me bid seventeen dol.
iaIs' let the anctioneer cry The last bid fol-
a lew minutes, until saw he was likely IN
knock it down.
"Twenty dollarsr' said /, sand that's as
much as I'll 90 for it,
''i'he other bidder was deceived BY this rs
to the real value Of tlles sofa, for it did loo,,
dreadlully disligured by the dustand dirt. and
consequently the sofa was knocked OF to me. -
That was admirably done. indeed 90 said
Mrs. Courtland, with bland smile of salts.
iaction at having obtained the elegant piece
OF furniture at SO cheap rate. "And it's so
near match, too, for the sofa in our front
parour."
This scene occurred at the residence OF
count his fifty thousands.
Let us look at the other side oftho rict,re
on the day previous to this sale, widow
lady, with one daughter e beautiful and IN
'efesting girl about seventeen, We're seated on
d SOFA In neatly furnished paTior in Hudson
street. The mother held in her hand A small
piece OF paper, on which her eyes were intent
~ hNed; but IL could readily be perceived
mat She saw not the characters that wero-
written upon It.
:, wv hat is to be done, ma at length asked
the daughter.
Indeed, my child, canno, tell. The bill
Is iiity dollars, and has been due. YOU know.
Tor several days. havn't got FIVE dollars.
ana your bill for teaching the Miss I.eonards
cannot be presented for two weeks, and then
IL VIII not amount to this sum-
Can't we sell something more. ma ~ sur-
gested the daughter.
''We have sold all our plate and iawo,,erv
and I'm sure don't know what we can dis,
pose OF unless ii be something that we really
want my
IVY w nat do you say to selling the sofa, ma"
wen, don't know, Florence Ii don't
seem right to part with it. But perhaps we
can do without it,
''lt will readily bring fifty dollars, sup
pose.n
''Certainly. 1t is Of the best WOOD ana
,..H55i,,nanehir. and cost ono i,a.ar"d and for
ty dollars. our father bought it short time
before he died, and that is less than two wears
past, you know"
Il should think il would bring nearly a
hundred dollars said Florence, who knew
nothing of auction sacrifices, land that would
give us enough, besides paying the quarters
rent, to keep us comfortably until some ofmy
bills come due.''
hat afternoon the sofa was sent, and on
the next afternoon Florence went to the auc-
tioneor's 20 receive the money for it.
'lidve you sold that sofa yet, sir 90 asked
the timd girl in low, hesitating voice.
''What sofa, missa'' asked the clerk, lock-
ing steadily in her face, with bold stare.
The sofa sent by Mis-, sir"
w hen was II TO have been sold &"
"N esierday, SIR
ooh, we haven't got the bill made ont vet.
y on can call day after tomorrow, and well
settle II for YOU
Cant you settleitto-day, sir! We want
the money particularly
| Without replying to the timid girls request
the clerk commenced throwing over the
leaves of a large account book, and in few
minutes had taken of the bill of the sofa.
"Here 1t ls-eighteen dollars and sixty
- ~ anu ttltIi SiIn lIlls
receipt
CANT You mistaken, sirl 1t was a beau
titul sofa, and cost one hundred and forty
dollars -
''That's all it brought, miss, assure YOU
Furniture sells very badly now"
Florence rolled up the bills that were civ
en- her, and returned home with heavy heart
sit only brought eighteen dollars and sixt,
cents, ma" she said, throwing the notes in
to her mothers lap, and bursting into tears.
Heaven only knows, then, what we shal
do said the widow, clasping her hands to
gether and looking upwards.
There are always two parties in the case o
bargains. The gamer and the loser. Ant
while the one is delighted with the advantao
he has obtained, he thinks nothing of the ne
cessitles which have forced the other party f
accept the highest offer. But few buyers o
bargains think or care about takingtl view
OF the subject.