Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-13
THE RAKs GAIN.
BY T. s, ARTHUR,

"Just wait moment and I'll tell you. Here,
Henry John bring it here" and the two por-
ters entered with beautiful sofa nearly new.
"What that is beauty, husband! How
kind you are.''
ats second hand, you perceive, butts hard
ly soiled-no one would know the difference.
ats just as good as new. What did you
give for itl'
"Thats the best part of it. 1t is splendid
bargain. 1t didn't cost cent less than hun
dred dollars. Now what do you think got
it for!'
"Sixty dolIars?"
"Guess again!"
"Fiftyp
"No. Try again?'
"But what did you give for it dear!"
"Why only twenty dolarsp'
"Well, now, that is bargain"
"Aint it, though. 1t takes me to get things
cheap" continued the prudent Mr. CORTLAND,
chuckling with delight.
"Why, how in the world, did it 60 off so
low?"
81 managed that. 1t amt every one that
understands how to do these things"
"But how did you manage it dear, should
like to know"
"Why, you see, there was a great many
things there, among the rest some dirty carpets
Before the sale, pulled over these carpets and
threw them upon the sofa; good deal of dust
fell from them, and made the sofa look fifty
per cent. worse than it really was.
When the sale commenced there happened
to be but few persons there, and ! asked the
auctioneer TO sell the sofa first, as | wanted
to 90, and would bid for it, if it were sold then
Few persons bid freely at the opening of the
sale.''
"What's bid for this splendid sofa?' he be-
gan.
"Ill give you fifteen dollars for it," said |,
'its not worth more than that, for its dread
fully abused"
"Fifteen dollars, fifteen dollars, only fifteen
dollars, for this beautiful sofa" He went on
and a man next to me bid seventeen dollars
II let the auctoneer cry the last bid for fee
minutes until saw he was likely to knools ii
down.
"Twenty dollars" said ], "and that's a
much as I'll go for it,"
"The other bidder was deceived by this a
to the real value of the sofa, for 1t did loo
dreadfully diSGgured by the dust and dirt, an
consequently, the sofa was knocked oft, t
me-"
"That was admirably done, indeed" sal
Mrs. CORTLAND, with bold smile of satistac
ton, at having obtained the elegant piece {
furniture at so cheap rate. And it's so nea
a match for the sofa in our front parlor."
This scene occurred at the residence of
merchant in the city, who was beginning
count his fifty thousands. Let us look at tn
other side of the picture.
, On the day previous to this sale, wldo
ladv with one daughter. beautiful and inte
Il on
sofa in a neatly furnished parlor in Hudso
> street.
The mother held in her hand small piet
of naper. on which her eyes were intent
i, fixed; but it could readily be perceived TIL
she saw not the characters that were write
upon it.
"What is to be done, MAJ" at length ask'
e, the daughter.
"Indeed, nv child cannot tell. The b
e; is fiftv dollars and has been due you know, f
several DAYS. | hay'nt got five dollars, al
YOUR bill for teaching Miss Leonard, cam
he presented for two weeks, and then it W
not amount to this sum-
"Can't we sell something more, mai" sugg'
ted the daughter.
"We have sold all our plate and jewell
and Pm sure | don't know what we can
pose of unless it be something we really wan
n "What do you say to selling the sofa m;
swell don't know Florence, it don't SCI
right to part with it."
at will readily bring fifty dollars, 81
pose."
"Oertainly, it is the best wood and workm
ship, and cost one hundred and forty dola
Your father bought it short time before
died, and that is less than two years past
know"
81 should think it would bring nearly h
dred dollars" said Florence who knew no
y. ING of auction sacrifices: and that would br
us enough besides paying the quarters rem
keep us comfortable until some OF my bills
come due"
That afternoon the sofa was sent, and on
newt afternoon Florence went TO the aucll
GERS to receive the money for 1t.
"Have you sold that sofa, yet slr!' as
u the timid girl, in low hesltatlng voice.
tv1A hn