The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-07-17
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o MI Y VI T..
BY FRANCES d. GAGE.

"We are in need of some new
chairs, husband. Shall | cali al
Scaritt e. Masonic this morning? "
said l to my taller half, some two
years ago.
"Why, no-I guess not. saw
an advertisement OF an auction sale
of furniture on Carr and-let me
see! Here il is! "A gentleman
wishing to retire from business, of
sers for sale,' etc."
"Oh! | hate auctions! | alw avs get
cheated. If really want thing,
never bid in time; and if | do bid,
am sure to have struck off to IN G
just the thing l don't want"
Just as you liker was the an wer;
and husband walked away to his
work.
Left to do as | pleased, | did as
wives usually do when left to suit
themselves followed his sugges.
ton, and concluded to go to the auc-
ton. Fanny was soon in the rocka-
way, and we drove olf-John ma.
king himself merry over the rmem
brance of some similar experience.
Bnt | concluded that all things, like
Toodles' collins, would come in play
some time.
While was pondering in my own
mind over the frequency of those
auctions, and wondering if there
could be any connection between
these gentlemen wishing to retire
from business and cxtravagent ex.
penditure upon small incomes, there
arose before me visions of large es.
tablshments, splendidly furnished
with tapestry carpets rosewood furn.
iture, lace curtains, silver tea sets,
and servants to match; while in close
proximity were shadows OF baskets
of champagne. fast horses, rich silks,
loves OF bonnets, splendid mantillas
brilliant jewels; and all Of the the
latest style and pattern. | lcould no,
help fancying that it might be, these
things, so coveted by the masses OF
the struggling mechanics, tradesmen
and clerks, might, after all, be 50
inimical to health, happiness, AMI
home comfort, as to induce certain
gentlemen to "wish to retire from
business" But, there ilaunts the
red flag, and here is the crowd. -
The auctioneer's voice is already
crying, Going! going! going!"
What host of 'ceazen:faced shar
pers crowd around him. How mar
carries his character in his look -
"Those old furniture men-not one
in the whole party looks as if he
could remember the time when he
boasted the possession, in fee simple
OF such q luxury as q soul. This il
all wrong, thought |, as pale faceC
woman glided through the crowd
into bedroom. Here we are, as
sembled to take advantage of thu
necessities Of our neighbors. Their
the still paler face OF a widow, wh'
had once owned, or, at least, a mis-
tress Of just such an establishment
caught my eye. Stripped by he
husbands death fall her fancie,
wealth, she had come hither to try
to gather up some cheap things, will
which to keep a boarding house
that she and her children might ca
honest bread.
There was the fat old man anC
his wife, who were going to furnisl
rooms and the dashing youn.
bride, who had set her heart upol
those beautiful mirrors-and tn
saucy young miss, who has finishes
her education at sixteen, and ha
led her indulgent papa to the auctio
room to secure for her use that "mag
nificent rosewood piano."
"Who bidsa-who bids? Civ
us start. Don't let such q thin
as this go a.beggin--one Of Chick
ering's best'-didn't cost less tina
five hundred in Bost;ng. "On
hundred" "Shame gentlemen
one hundred twenty-twenty. FIVE
fifty; fifty-sixty-worth four time
the money Seventy five." Shan
take no five bids-push it aheac
gentlemen" Eighty" Eighty
ninety two hundred-ten-twenty-
thirty--forty." ''Three hundred.
said the saucy missis' papa. "Thre
hundred--thre. three, three, three
gentlemen, this splendid rosewoo
piano just a'going-- going wh
bidsi-just a.going, going-going-
gono.
So went on the sale. The fir
floor was sold at good prices
little more, rather than less, tha
shop prices-for the furniture boz
evident signs of having passe
through same ordeal more than one
before. The scond story was 500
passed, and yet had made no bic
Now the refuse Of the third stor
was brought to light; old tables, ol
was.stands, cracked.sets, old pic
ures in old frames, that looked ,
though they might have adorned Il
humble home Of the pale lady
childhood, but now put away
sight, as had been the light-hearte
ness and joy of earlier days.
Fine picture, gentlemen and ]
dies, treHch engraving in q maho