The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-06
The WidoM,s F.urchaR..

umuStuR AuCIIOu IHctuStS tuut tFdnoptTeu
in Weymouth some fifty or sixty years
ago. A veteran sea captain Of that an
cient town having paid the debt Of nature,
day was appointed by his administrator
for the sale of his goods and chatels. A
large number Of the neighbors, male and
female, attended the on occason, and among
others Q widow, whose weeds concealed
rather prepossessing person. She had
seen nearly fifty summers, but time had
laid his touch SO lightly upon her, that
she might pass for maid of thirty. Her
husband, who had been from his youth a
sailor, had fallen q victim to the perils Of
the sea and since his death she had led
a lonely life, the sole occupant Of neat
rural cottage which he had left her.
One article after another was sold, un-
till the auctioneer, to wind up the sale, Of
fered lot of canvass that had been stow
ed away under q shed. The widow, for
what particular reason we are unable to
say, began bidding for it, but not without
competition. Two or three others stepped
up and began to examine it. Pulling it
open they discovered a tarpaulin hat, and
as they paused from surprise voice salut.
ed them from the pile Of canvass with:
"What are you after, overhauling this
craft, you land-lubbers?"
All present stood amazed, but the auc.
tioneer soon recovered from his astonish-
ment, and being somewhat Of wag,
brought down his hammer, exclaiming,
with a comical smile;
"The widow - has the lot for
one dollarl"
The laugh that followed, and the Wild
ow's confusion, as she saw sailor emerg
ing from beneath the canvas, may readi
ly be imagined. The gallant tar jumped
upon his feet, and inquired who had
bought him.
"The widow -" replied the auc.
tioneer, convulsed with laughter.
"Rless my luck" continued Jack, 81
am just the fellow to be her slave"
The widow, striving in vain to conceal
her embarrassment, hurried out of the
crowd, and made the best of her way
home. The sailor gazed after her, and
watched her course, until he saw her en-
ter her own humble cottage. Then turn.
ing to the auctioneer, he inquired:
"What freight is there here for the
widow? Just load it upon this craft.
and shiver my timbers If don't land it
safe at her door,"
The articles which the widow had
bought were accordingly gathered up, and
the sailor, taking them upon his shoul'
ders trudged off. He did land his load in
safety, Us he promised; then catching q
glance of the widow, as she looked won-
deringly at him through the window, he
doffed his tarpaulin respectfully to her,
and departed. The widow hardly knew
whether TO regard his conduct simply as
the rash impulse Of sailors humor, or as
indicative cE some preconcerted sheme.-
She felt relieved to see him depart; still
she had lurking curiosity to know some
thing more about him.
On his return from the widows, a
crowd gathered around the tar, when in
answer to numerous questions put to him
he stated that while passing by he had
been informed that an old sea captains
effects were to be sold, and this induced
him to attend the sale; that finally, when
it vas getting late in the afternoon he dis.
covered the heap Of old canvass in back
shed and resolved to take up his lodgings
in it for the night, little thinking it wa:
to be overhauled and sold.
After this explanation he was beset
with invitations from different members
of the group, and finally accepted the
proffered hospitality Of a fellow sailor for
the night. Next morning he called al
the widows betimes, and asked whether
she had any services for him to perform
that day.
"You bought me fairly;,' said he "aud
am ready TO do your bidding. Besides
out of regard to 'an old shipmate, who
perished before my eyes in storm at sen
and who left widow somewhere in thi:
quarter, am bound to do a favor for ev
cry widow meet with"
This alluson to an old shipmate, excit
ed in the bosom of the lonely woman 9
strong desire to hear his story. She in
vited him in, and, after questioning him
a few minutes, ascertained that the ship.
mate of whom he had spoken was no 9TH
er than her own lamented husband. Her
interest in him from that moment rapidly
increased. In compliance with her entra'
ties, he stopped to dine with her, and the
day was far spent before he left her
house. He remained in the village and
spent portion of each day at the widows
1t was soon announced that preparations
were making for wedding; and few
weeks after the stranger sailor became
the widows husband. Although she had
purchased him, she never imposed any
servilc burdens upon him.
THE white man must stand back here
G.. Al &C Az, ic di-.