Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-04
On came the crowd with hurricane of hurrahs


ger crowd from rushing upon nan, woman and
infant-the lions of the DAY
Inc man was a stout bury fellow of about for
ty-fve or fifty; his face had been originally deeply
marked with smlll pox, but the smaller Impress Of
the disease had been literally ploughed out by deep
blue burrows, which the horrible fire .dampJlud LETT
in his heck and face. lie had lost one eye, and a
! wooden stump supplied the place of his right eg.
The express Of his features was that of a tiend
: ii brutal, animal feud
The woman was much younger, probably about
twenty three, with as much of good looks as was
compatible with her savish occupation in life
young chlld OF about n year old was in her arms
, quite undlsturbed by The horrid uproar around.
common henpen halter was put loosely around her
neck, the end Of which was held by her husband !;
: she evidently in her best attire her face was
WASHED, leaving a boundary line Of coal dust ex-
/, tending along the edge of the lower Jaw, and her
hair was gathered up into a knot behind, confined
; by blue ribbon, which fUated in gallant stream
ers
1t one might Judge from her appearance, her
situation was anything but unpleasant 10 Isr feel
lng'. and IN reply to the encouraging exclamation,
"Ne'er E-ldI Sal keep up yer 'atj,--neger say
die ddc:, she replied with merry laugh, Ginl as
sured them that she would be glad to get rid of
The old rascal, and that it served her right for mar
: rying such good for nothing scoundrc.. At
length they arrived at the centre of the market
place, some ale was sent for-all the fildcfs and
all the hurdy- gurdes' were pressed into service
and all struck up in simultaneous discord, before
the business Of the day was entered upon.
After all these preparations were concluded an
inverted tub was brought Oh winch the woman
stood, still holding her child Another was provi.
ded for the auctloneer-husbanI. 'ring' was
cleared by some stout fellows with sticks, and the
business of the sale comm need
Perhaps some people may shake their heads in
doubt at the scene am attempting to describe
A HAT ian I q.
was not the first time had looked on such scene.
| know the law does not allow 1t. but saw it DONE
and am not the apo ogst, either Of the law or the
people.
learned, upon inquiry, that jealousy was the
cause OF the present auction, as it always is, of
similar transactions. That Rough Moey," in bis
green old age, had given pit wencl' Il new
gown, aud other articles of dress with fort nights
treat" to marry him; that she had aiterward trans
tcrred her reflections TO young collier upon which
Noey became Jealous and beat her; beating how
ever, did cure love, but ouly awakened thoughts
OF vengeance. She watched her opportunity, ami
nndng her husband one night very drunk, she gem
ily unstrapped and removed his wouden cr and
lhreshed him to her hearts content; whcreupon
Mooy. knowing perhaps, that love is strong as
iea!h,' became tired of keeping Il woman, the al
'ectuns OF whose young and delicate heart were
absorbed by another, and adopted the present mode
of procedure, as the only recognized legal method,
with which he was cognizant, Of transferring her
to her admircr.
"Larrdies and gentlemen" said Moey upon his
; tub, holding quart pot IN one hand and The halter
in the other and wnkIng with his remaining eye,
; "Laerdies and gentlemen, cre's all yer very good
heailis." lie took long, long drauaht, then in
vefed the pot, to show that 1t was empty, and said
: Ah-h-h! About one hundred and hitv golfers
t laughed and SAID, "thank thee, Moev" and the
same number Of women said well done, old lad
a young man who WAS evidently to be the purcht.
ser, supplied the wife with ale, and she kept up
RUM ny fire of short sentences with the women a.
round. Notwithstanding this bravado, could see
her eyes were filled with tears, and her heart
} beating hercev. Her voice iatered at last, and
giving her child 10 the young man, she sat down
on the tub, buried her face in her hands and wcpt
bitterly. All laughing sud enly ceased; there
was no more Joking, but clamOt OF abuse that
would have overwhelmed Babel, the women, old
and young, poured upon Moey 1t was very conta
gious, That feeling of Indignation, when once
ed, aud the mems brows began to contract, when
the purchaser cXpectant said. in Il rather savage
voice, "Come, now, old chap; let's IA done with
; tins ioOltry; go on"
"I.aerdles and gentlemen said Moey, eve all
on us know how the matter stands; it Gonna be
: helped. so we needn't be savage about it, Then
iurtltying himself with another drink, and wlnkIng
hldeDuSly with his remaining eye, he continued
"Laerdies AMI gentlemen, | AK lae to oppose to
yer notice a very andsome young 'ooman aud
noce little babhy, which either belaH. IS TO Iue or
somebody else" Here Il general laugh, and
good haHor was gaining again the ascendant.
F., Hers IA good crdtur," continued Moey, " aud
goes pretty well in arness, with little logglng
Ter can cook shpeps head like Christian. and
, max broth good as Lord Dartmouth. Her can
carry hundred ana aft o Goals from the pit for
| three Jules; her can sell 1t well, and put Il down
her throat IN three minils." general laugh OF
applause followed this, and ihe grateful audience
= pressed morc drink on the orator.
2 Hers as good morality young CONAN" resu-
med the auclloneer, las the parson, and Can sing
/ Babylon's alen.' Wrostiin Jaercob,' aud Back
: slidin Sinners at the raners' chapel as good
jews narp Her was brought up mailer, and can
! Hmke alt thousand o sXpenuy nails in day If
|, yer can only get her to do H." The woman her
self did not wish tn abet her husband in deceving
= her purchaser, presume, for here she suddenly
) looked up and exclaimed, "Why, thee knowst
!, thee beest lying hef, hloey." "Ne'e mind her
. lads" said Moey, "her'il make good wife, Il reg
!, uar goln GIN 'oss; and il any OF yer young te-
;, ers wants wife without the trouble o courling,
: nows yer time; hers rale trump, very fond o
e young men," The lady here expressed ner opln-
ION, that he was "a lying good tor nothing, black
= quart scamp"
Nov my lads" continued Moey, "roll up and
bid spirited; it's all right, accordln to law; brot
= her through the turnpike, and paid the mon, bro't
S her with a halter, an had her cried; there's
= nothing TO pay, and the law consarns ali rights so
If yer gle ne enough tor the 'ootnnn gie ye the
It young kid into the bargain. Now, gentlemen, who
+ bids? Coin, gon, goln, can't relay-can't dwell
e on this lot, as the auctoneer says"
5, The orator ceased, and great cheering followed
: his speech. eighteen pence" cried voice
= from the crowd. eighteen pencew repeated
: Moey, "only eighteen pence fora iul grown young
h CONAN! why you'd have to pay the plrsun seven
G and six for narryn yer! and hers wife ready
# made 10 yer hands Tor eighteen pence, ell who
bids ?"
. "fll gre thee half crown, Old rough-un," said
Il the young man, who they all knew would be the
h purchaser. "Pl tell thee wot, jack said Moey,
J. nj theet make it up three gallons o drunk hers
g thine: III AK thee nought for the babby and the
4 haters worth quart. Come, say SIX .hllnw-
$ After little chatting about the price, the young
= man agreed to pay Tor three gallons u ale whIen