Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-06-02
MISCELLANY.
TSsE BARGAIN.
THE GAMER AND THE LoosER.


THE GAMER AND THE LooSER.
"What have you got there husband" said
Mrs. Courtland to her thrifty and careful
spouse as the latter paused in the open
door. 10 give some directions to a couple OF
porters who had Just set something on the
pavement in front Of the house.
''Just wait moment, and III tell you.
Here, Henry John bring it in here, ''and
the two partners entered with beautiful
sofa nearly new.
"Why, that is beauty, husband How
kind you are !"
its second hand, you perceive, but it is
hardly soiled-no one would know the dit
ference"
"Ifs just as good as new. What did you
give fol it:''
That's the best part of it. It is a splen-
did bargain. It didn't cost a cent less than
hundred dollars. Now, what do you think
| got it for -
"Sixty dollars :"
"Guess again"
"Filty :"
''Guess again.
"Forty y-fve"'
"No. Try again
"But what did you give for it, dear"
"Why, only twenty dollas !"
"Weil, now, that is bargain" D"
"Ain't it thought 1t takes me to get the
things cheap, continued the prudent Court
land, chucklIng with delight.
"Why, how in the world did it go of SO
low?"
'I 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 were a great ma
ny other things there, and among the rest
some dirty carpets. Before the sale pull
led over these carpets and threw them up
on the sofa, a good deal Of dust fell from
them, and made the sofa look fifty per cent
worse than it really was. When the sale
was commenced, there happened to be but
few persons there, and asked the auction
eer to sell the sofa. as | wanted to 60, and
/ would bid for it if it sold then. Few per-
sons bid freely at the opening of a sale.
whats bid for the splendid sofa p he
began,
"Ill give you fifteen for it" said 'it's
not worth more than that, for it's dreadful
ly abused"
"Fifteea dollars! fifteen dollars! only fif-
teen dollars for this beautiful sofal' he
went Oh: and man next to me bid seven
teen dollars. | let the auctioneer cry the
last bid few minutes until saw he was
likely to knock down.
Twenty dollars ~ said l "and that's as
much as lll go for ii"
"The other bidder was decided by this as
to the real value cf the sofa, for it did look
dreadluIly disfgured BY the dust, and con-
.equenty the sofa was knocked off to me"
THAT was admirably done, indeed!"
said Mrs. Courtland, with bland smile Of
satisfaction at having obtained an elegant
piece of furniture at so cheap rate. "And
It's so near match, too, for the sofa in our
front parlor."
This scene occurred at the residence Of
4 merchant in this city,who was beginning
to count his fifty thousands. Let US look
IN the other side of the picture,
On the day previous TO this sale wid
ow lady with one daughter, beautiful and
interesting girl about seventeen,were seat
ed on a sofa in a neatly furnished parlor in
Hudson Street. The mother held in her
hand small piece of paper, on which her
eyes were intently fixed but it could be
'eadiiy perceived that she saw rot the
;hal acters written upon it.
''What is to be done, ma at length ask
ID the daughter"
.'Indced, my child l cannot tell. The bill
S fifty dollars and has been due, you know,
or several days. | havnt got five dollars,
md your bill for teaching the Miss Leon
lards cannot be presented for two weeks, |
md then it will not amount to his sum-"
"Can't we sell something more, ma"
the daughter.
''We have sold all our plate and jewelry
md now I'm sure | don't know what we
,an dispose Of unless it be something that |
We really want"
"What do YOU say to sell the sofa ma :"
"Wcl, | don't know, Florence. Ii don't +.
eem right to part with it. But perhaps we
,an do without it,"
at viii readily bring fifty dollars sup
,ose ;"
Certainly. It is of the best wood and
and cost one hundred and
orty dollars. Your father bought 1t short
ime before he died and that Is less than
wo years past you know"
81 should think it would bring nearly
ne hundred dollars" said Florence, who
new nothing cf auction sacrifices land
nat would give us enough besides paying
he quarters rent, TO keep us comfortable
ntil some of my bills become due"
That afternoon the sofa was sent, and on
he next afternoon Florence went to the
.uctioneer TO receive. the money for it.
"Have you sold the sofa yet sir p asked
he timid girl, in a low, hesitatlng voice.
tslNhat S,f, Nice - asked tha clerk !