The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-12-06
The Old Bureau.
CHAPTER 1.


there but few moments when we heard
female voice inquiIing,
is this bureau 10 be sold to-day 2
On looking up, we perceived that the
question had been addressed to us by 4
young lady, whose sad but pleasant coun.
tenance struck us at once. We replied
that all the articles spread on the side.
wax would be disposed Of 10 the highest
bidder.
i should. like this bureau, il it goes low
enough, she said, pointing to an old lash
iOned article that was standing agzsN. =. = =
"'h"r fuEIitnrc; 2rut Rey~r boxS1t~yar.
thing at auction in my lie, and sec no
woman here; don't know as it would b.
proper for me TO bid.
1t would be perfectly proper we re-
marked; but is yUN v5;<A il, will bid off
the bureau
If you will, sir, shall be greatly ob-
liged 10 you
How high are you willing should go;
don't know exactly how much It is
worth, but il it sells for three or four dol
lars you may buy it,
Shall speak to 4 hand cartman to
leave it at your houseS'
No, sir, | will call at noon and settle
for it and take it away. am very much
obliged TO you for your kindness
So saying, the young lady went away,
leaving uS to wonder who she was, and Of
what use the old bureau could be TO her
We examined i took out the drawers.
htIf Satls Fls,fIinrR IL H.. A.
eleven clock, when the auction cummcn-
crd, we were present, and after waiting
nearly an hour, the auctioncer remarked,
We will now sell the bureau. What will
you give me, gentlemen
One man offered two dollars, another
three. mud we bid half dollar more
-Four dollars were Oid-fp four and half and
live dollars We were astoni>hed that the
old thing should bring such o price. =
What could We do-see il sold, and diSap.
poiu, the lady! The thought struck US
that it might have belonged to some old
friend, and she wished to purchase it on
that account, and rather than diSappuint
h-r, We resolved to bid aguin. The bu
reSu run up IL ten dollars, and we pur.
~ iO' nan llUIt. AcTtdlil-
ly We should not have given four dollars
Tor il TO usc ourselves.
However, We bought it, and Ind it sent
to our room, telling the auclioncrr that il
a ldy should call for it, 10 infnm her
where it might he found. We examined
It asrin aud again, and bryan to regret
"nr purchase, tcc.iug almost certain that
ia. 4 ,,a,,ll ii r.
what We had done but We never mourn
over a taI bargain. Our philosophy vii!
not permit uS 10 do SO.
4 utl,e after disk, ms we were sitting
III eur >anctnm. the Young lady came in,
with an apology Tor IntrudIng, and re-
marked
'You bought the burcau-so the auc-
tiouccr irtnimS me-
Yt>, | bought it at an extravagant
price, | assure you
What did you give"
'rcn drlar> and hale
'Ynu a>tuhish lne What can do?
had no idea it would brn6 over three or
four duiiarS. and ain not prepared to pay
for it to night
1 sup use it was foolish in me to give
>o much for it, but presumed you want.
ed IT very much
i did. sir, and would not value paving
double the amount for the bureau, if !
were able, rather than no, have it,
SO apprrhendrd. Perhaps It may
have belonged to some dear friend Of
yours
Yes. sir, that bureau wns once my
mother >-and ] noticed tear come in
her eve. which she endeavoreh to conceal
but she is dead now, and wished to
keep it in remembrance Of her.
Thinking the lady might be poor, we
told her that she might take the bureau
that night, il she wished, and pay US wi en-
she found il convenient
/ am greatly obliged to you for your
kindnesS, but would rather that you
should keep it until it is paid for
We urged her to take it, but she re-
fused, saving:
4 will see what can do, and call in a
day or two and see you, and bidding US
good evening, she left.
There is something very mysterious
about this woman, thought we. 1t may
be that she is poor, and perhaps in very
destitute circumstances. But she shows
an excellent heart, and the warmeSt at
tachment to deceased mother. Her edu-
cation must have been good, and she has
, evidently seen better days. And wa tho
The next time she called upon US, VIC
would ascertain something more OF her
character and circumstances perhaps her
name which we felt derply anxious to
learn.
In day or tw9 the young woman call.
ed upon us again, and with tears in her
eyes remarked: .......,... ..r
4 do not know what you will think oI
mr, but all the money have in the world
is five dollars; this have brought you to.
wards the bureau you were so kind as to
purchase for me-
So saying, she placed the money before
US in silver.
i shall not take the money at present,
we remarked, i can do without it. You
may take the bureau if you want it; and
when you are able, 1T some future time
yon may pay Inc for it,.
She expressed great deal of gratitude,
and said, 4 would rather You should take
what | have ) and nothing that We could
say would induce her to take the money
again.
You appear to have seen some afflic'
ton, we observed, as we saw the tears in
her eyes.
Not much, sir; must confess that
have not always been as poor as am al
present; for I have SEEN better days
Whom my parents were living never
knew what it was to want for anything
Now ! cannot say So
How long have your parents been
dead =
About six years since my father died
and it was four years ago last Saturday
when my mother died
- AT the mention of her mothers name
the tears came to her eyes-a tender
chord was tOuched-we saw it and made
a.. l.