Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1845-07-26
THE FORCED SALE.
ToUcufNc YALE FROM rf4t ttrr

tled teaFiutly~-and na1lsloneet WH0Re Rlz
threatened to demolish the windows, rattle
,gainft Them with a per iHariiy as if ID lei
, their strength. 10 the paflor of d FIRE bI
fashionable. house, beside rather q conForilet
fire on such a night, were stated The famil
Of Mr.. Sutherland, cofi6rEiibg bF himseI
wife, and daughter, aid a faithful maid serY
ant. A heavy glpoin, more Of sorroR tina
Of anger, rested on each brow not even e1
coping that of the maid servant alluded u
from whose eager glances, ever and aro
cast towards the family group, a close OBJ
server would bagH noticed The deep interes
she took In the cause Of their grief
The picture was a melancholy one, 70
virtue in distress has no light shade to re
lieve; ali around il il dark anil sombfe. Tn
f%ensitivc artist would have thrown aside hi
pencil, if the subject bad been presented Il
bic view as we have described il, and hi
heart would haee received an impression
which could not have been transferred t
canvass.
"To-morrow,' observed Mr.. Sutherland
"is the anniversary of the melancholy dealt
Of our Henry-io. motfuw viii be ten year
since thesvessel in which he sailed was lost
and all on board pefisbd-all, all"
"Alas," exclaimed the wIte, as the tear
coursed their way down her cheeks, "to
morrow will be 4 melancholy day"
'lndeed st viii, for Tomorrow This, house
which belonged 10 my father-the tufHitUre
which time has made, as it were, part Of 5ur,
selves, associated with maDv a pleasing
| event in our lives, is to be gnld-torn from
us by thu unreleptiDg hands ofcreditore. But
thank Heaven, misfortune, not crime, has re-
duCed us to this stage Of poverty.
"No. my child, unless, with that little
money a friend has generously loaned me, |
can secure a few articles, Ellen, my dear,
take your pencil and put them down; first
the sldnhoard, two beds, chairs and kitchen
things. The sideboafd, it 10 true, will he 10
us now a snperflnous piece of furniture, but
it belonged TO my mother, | cannot, will NOT
part witb it,"
"B0t my piano, + !-must il got"
The wife sighed, the father cast his eyes
towards the Pickering fire, he daughter was
silent. The fate of the piano was decided
upon. A melancholy pause In the converse.
ton plainly told how severe was the feelings
of its victims when exacting the penalty Of
bond
800, Mary and request the sherif7s officer.
who is watching the property, to walk into
the parior; he is only diving his du'y-no
doubt II is as painful to him az II is distress
ing to US. Let him have a seat at our fire,
for it is a severe night"
ut is, indeed a fearful night" observed
Mrs. Sutherland, and we have behaved rude
to this man.,
"Molher, | made a Ere in the. room he
Speak out, chlld--it was with the last
sLick.'
"Father, it was-,,
Mary returned with the officer, = polite,
genllemanly man-for such should be. the
character Of men WIN has to perform a part
ia he drama of life-unIike that of the in
q~uisitors Of old, who-e province it was to tor
ture by the racks with this difference, how
ever, theirs was a physical tortune-ours is
mental one, administered wlthsall the nicely
and precision of legal justice !! The officer
politely accepted the invitation, and endeav.
ored to cheer his victims by enumerating
many cases of Il similar kind, equally pUig-
mart and distressing. Thus the SEEMING
passed heavily and cbeerIessly away.
On the morning Of tine contemplated sale,
there was to be seen a crowd of people flock.
ing to the house of Mr.. SutEerland-somc out
Of sheer, haartleas curiosity. friends Of the
family, who came with mockery on their lips
aud empty purses, others with an intent 10
purchase; but not one among the crowd
showed the least desire to aid, assist, or sym.
pathlse with the distress of the family. This
is the world; we laugh al the misforlunes Of
our fellow. creatures, and even mock their
distress, BY witness ing in silence their suffer-
ings. The auctioneer was now making his
arrangements by fourishing his hammer,
..I:.-@L 81 aryaa aud 1tairn his fnnnIn The
motley crowd gathered around him. The
house was put up first; it was accurately
descr.bed-free from all membranes, and
subject 10 but very small ground rent. 1t
was started at five thousand dollars There
were several bidders, all Of whom seemed
desiseoUs to purchase il.
Seven thousand Ave hundred dollars wa,
at last bid, upon which be dwell for a moment.
Mr.. Sutherland compressed his lips together,
and muttefed to himself, at cost my tatheE
fifteen thousand dollars.
sSeven thousand five hundred doIlars-go-
ing-once-twice three times-for the last
time going"
Eight thousand"
"T'hank you, sir. Going at eight thons-
and-once eight thouoand, twiee-eight
thonsand three times, gong, gone What
name r.
"Ciifford was the repose; and all eyes res
ted on a tall, noble Joking man, who had re,
NAMED silent during the rapid bidding Of the
spaculator,-and Hho, as the whisper went
round, was a total stranger.
at is gone" whispered Mr.. Sutherland to
his wife as he pressed her hand IL silent
grief.'' eve havesno home now" ~
snow, gentlemen,' said the auciioneer,
1--WE will sell this sideboaTd, in regard to
which | am requested by the creditor to say
that it is an old family piece, and it u the
wish of the owner to retain possession OF II
if possible. merely mention it, as it il
known 10 yoir under what peculiar cireunl-
| stances tie things are sold" >
This had The desired effect-no one seem
ed wiling 70 bid against the unfortunate man,
Who started ii 1T ten dollars. Twenty was
hid by Mr.. Clifford sw%enty-fFe by VI. Suih-
| erI nd: ffty from ME4 CfifFJrd sdenced The
anxious parents, and the family piece Of iuF-
niture WAS knocked down to the new pos
SCISSOR Of the house. A gentleman whe
stood by remarked, that the act was a coicr
heariiess one.
sNVas ii; sarcastieally asked MI. CLIFFORD
then sir, Why did you not buy i fnr him.!
Rfr. Sutherland was much effected al ihit
! little incident. .he little knows how much
he has lacerated this heart. But will pur-
chase the piano fer my child" :.
He stepped up to Mr.. Clifford, and TOLD
him the desire he had 10 purchase the pianr
for bis daughter, and he hoped he woull no
| bid against him.
.sSiT," said The stranger, "as much as
respect your feelings, and the sympathy o
this good company, 1 cannot, nay, will NOT
after the determination made when ! frs
entcred this house"
And pray, sir what may that be?''
III purchase everery thing in il, and b