The weekly union record., 1864-08-13
The Widows Purchase

Tradition hsS hasded down rather amusing
auction Incident that lrauSpired in Weymouth
some fifty or sixty years ago. A veteran sea
captain of that ancient town having paid the
debt of nature. q day vas appointed b! bis
administrator for the sale Of bis goods aud
chat;els A large number Of the neChbOTS
male and female, attended the occasion aud
among others widow. whose weeds concealed
a rather prepe-SesSirg person. She had seen
nearly Ely summers, but time had laid bis
hand 80 lightly upon Der that she might pass
for maid OF ltirty. Her huS6a1d, who had
been from his youth a sailor. bad fallen a victim
TO tie peVilS ei the sea +; and since his death
she had led a looely lie the sole occupant q
neat, rural cottage which he left he7.
One article after auoiher was sold, uaii. he
auctioneer, 10 wind up the sale, offered a io'
OF canvas that had been slowed away under
shed. The widow, fer what particular reason
we are unable 90 sag, began bidding for IT, bat
not without competition. Two OF three Others
stepped up aid began 10 examine Il Pulling
ii open, they discovered ,arp4uliu bat. and
as they paused fyom surprise, a voice sa,g,ed
them from The pile OF canvas, with;
What are you after, ever hau.iug this craft,
you laud lubbegs
All present stood amazed, but The auctioneer
sooa recovered from his establishment. and,
being something OF wag, brocgbt down his
hammer. exelaiiaiug. with comical smile:
The widow - has the lot for one dollar
The laugh that followed and the widows
confusion. as she saw sailor emerging from
beneath lhe canvas, may readily be imagined.
The gallant tar jumped upon his ieet aud
inquired who had bought him
The widow -.' replied the auci.0neeT,
convul>ed vi laughter.
Bless my good luck" continued Jack, Il
am jus; he fellow 10 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
stood gazing after her and watched her course
until he saw her enter her own humble cottage
Then turning to the auc'ioueer. he inquired :
What freight Is here here for the widow
Just load it upon his craft; shiver my timbeIs
if don't lard II safe at her door
The articles which the widow bad bought
were accordingly gathered up. aud the sailor
taxing them upon his shoulders trndged of
He did land his load in safety. as he promised;
then catching glance Of the widow, as she
looked wonderingly at him through the window.
be dotftd his larpauin respectfully TO her aud
departed. The widow hardly knew whether
to regard his conduct simply as the rash
impulse of a sailor humor, or as indicative Of
some precOncerted scheme. She felt relieved
to see him depart; still she had lurking
curiosity to know something more about him.
On his return from the widows, crowd
gathered around the tar, when in answer to
numerous questions put to him. be stated that
he was stranger in the place; that while
passing by be 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 was getting late in the afternoon he
discovered the heap Of old canvas in back
shed, and resolved to take up bis lodgings in
it for the night, little thinking ii was 10 be
overhauled and sold
After this explanation. he was besct with
invitations from different members of the group,
and finally accepted be prcfered hospitality
of fellow sailor for the night. Next morning
he called at the widows beumes and inquired
whether she had any services for him 10 perform
thai day. Iou bought ne fairly said he
"and am ready to do Your bidding. Besides
out of regard to au old shpmate who perished
before my eyes in storm al sea, and who left
a widow somewhere in this quarter. am bound
to do favor for every widow l meet with
This alluson to an old shipmae excited in
the bosom of the lonely woman a strong desire
to hear his story. She invited him in, and
after questioning him few MINUTES, ascertained
that the shipmate of whom he had spoken was
20 other than her own lamented husband Her
interest in him from that momen: rapidly
increased. In compliance with her entreaties
he stopped to dine with her, and the day was
far spent before be left the house. He remained
in the village and spent a portion of each day
at the widows. 1t was soon announced that
preparations were making for wedding; and
a few weeks alter the stranger sailor became
the widow husband Although she had pur-
chased him. she never imposed any serye
burdens upon him.