Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-05
From the New York Mirror.
THE BARGAIN.

'What have you there, husband" said Mrs.
CORTLAND TO her thrifty and careful spouse,
as the latter paused in the opeh door to give
some directions TO a couple of porters who
had just set something upon the pavement IN
frcnt of the house.
Just wait moment, and I'll tell YOU
Here, Henry John bring it in here and the
two porters entered with beautiful sofa,
nearly new.
'Why, that is beauty, husbands How
kind you are p
IFS second hand, you perceve; but it's
hardly soiled-no one would know the differ
ence.'
'lrs just as good as new. What did you
give for it >
That's the best part of it. 1t is splendid
bargain 1t didn't cost a cent less than hun
bred dollars. Now, what do you think got
it for" Sixty doIlars;'
Guess again. Fifty? =
Guess again Forty -fve''
mo. Try again.
But what did you give for it, dear =
why, only twenty doIars!'
well, now, that is a bargain
'Ain't it, thought 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" L managed that, 1t amt every one
that understands how to do these things
But how did You manage If, dear
should like 10 know
sWhy, you see, there were great many
other things there, and 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 1t re-
ally was. When the sale commenced, there
| happened 10 be but few persons there, and
asked the auctioneer to sell the sofa first, as
wanted to go, and would bid for it if it were
sold then. Few persons bid freely at the
opening of a sale.
Whats bid for this splendid sofa" he be-
gan.
I'll give you fifteen dollars for it, said |
it's not worth more than that, for it's dread
fully abused
Fifteen dollars fifteen dollars! only fiji
teen dollars for this beautiful sofa! he wen
on and man next to me bid seventeen dol
lars. let the auctioneer cry the last bid 70
! a few minutes, until saw he was Likely Il
knock it down.
Twenty dollarsr said I, and that's a
much as I'll go for it,
The other bidder was deceived by this as It
the real value of the sofa, for it did look dread
fully disfgured by the dust and dirt, and con
sequently the sofa was knocked off to me-
That was admirably done, indeed = sail
Mrs. CORTLAND, with bland smile OF salts
faction at having obtained the elegant plec
of furniture at so cheap rate And it's s.
near match, too, for the sofa in our from
parlour.'
This scene occurred al the residence of
merchant in this 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, widoN
lady with one daughter, beautiful and inter
esting girl about seventeen, were seated on
sofa in neatly furnished parlor in Hudson
street. The mother held in her hand sma
piece of paper, on which her eyes were in
tently fixed but it could readily be perceive
that she saw not the characters that wei
written upon it.
what is to be done, MAJ at length aske
, the daughter. =.
Indeed, nv child, | cannot tell The bl
i is fifty dollars, and has been due, you know
! for several DAYS. haven't got five dollar
y and your bill for teaching the Miss Leonart
y cannot be presented for two weeks, and the
ii will not amount to this sum-