Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-02-08
r. M BARGAINS.
A Domestic Sketch.

A Domestic Sketch.
The soul of Mrs. Camp delighted in
a bargain. , To get something for moth
ing she hardly expected, but to get
something for little or almost nothing
rendered her happy for weeks there
after; and, in purchasig articles ever
but a little below the regular price, her
pleasure was proportionate to the few
pence more or less which she had per-
suaded the dealer to deduct from her
bill. / think auctioneers and traders
in secondhand goods must have re-
garded her almost as a personal friend,
so persistent and regular were her Wis
its to their haunts. And it was very
rare that she did not bring away some
trophy to be proudly exhibited as q
specimen of her skill in bargaining.
That it was of no use to her, or any
member Of the family, was by no means
a drawback. "Keep a thing for seven
years, and you'll find a use for it," was
a maxim always at her tongues end,
and, for the sake of proving its truth, /
suppose, she persisted in filling her
house with articles for which she had
no use, in the faith that the prescribed
period of time would find them in some
way indispensable.
Apart from this falling, however,
Mrs. Camp was a careful wife, solicit
Gus respecting her husbands comfort;
a kind and judicious mother, as the
happy faces and carefully attired bodies
Of four juvenile Camps attested; a mod
81 housekeeper and a capital cook. So
That, you can see, the wheels of the
Camp household moved on with tolera-
DIE ease and regularity, despite Mrs.
Camps mania for buying cheap things.
1t was n cool, crisp morning in
January that Mrs. Camps eye fell up
IN the announcement of a grand auc-
ion of MI. Commits household goods,
o be sold without reserve. Mr.. Conant
who had lately absconded with a
arge sum of money to which legally
lis employers had more claim than he
had had the reputation of owning a
cry luxuriously furnished house, and
6rs. Camp Immediately decided that
he would be present at the sale.
That evening when the little ones
were safely in their beds, and Mr.. and
ar. Camp were the sole occupants OF
he cozy sitting-room, the lady begar
he campaign.
"My DEAR" she said softly.
swell, what is it. dearP" was the
yentleman's CHEEKY response.
Mr.. Camp was fond of his wife, and
lid not consider either himself or he1
90 old for pet names. Besides, he haC
lad his tea and read his paper, and wa
ceiling comfortable and goOd-humored
"Could you let me have some money
or tomorrow, Harry? All MIR
conant's beautiful furniture and car
,ets and every thing are to be sold BY
~uction, and, of course, will GO as cheap
8 dirt, and
"Don't, Laura; the house is full Of
ubbish already" her husband inter
upted, impatiently; 81 wish you'C
ever 90 inside another auction room.'
"Oh, Harry, I'm sure I never buy
NY thing but what will come in hand
ONE time if it don't just now. But W.
o really need a couple of new arm
hairs, and we shan't have another
UGH chance in a hurry as this will b,
} get them for almost nothing"
well, if we really need them VIII,
ont you go to a furniture shop ant
NY them, and have it done with?
ont understand your fancy for havin.
ne house eternally crammed with sec
nd-hand stuff"
"But, Harry, don't you know tn
'onants would not be likely to hav
ny thing but the bestP And anywa,
would do no harm just to look in a
60 down town."
"Oh, well, have your own way, m,
ear. But l know what your 'look
" in to an auction sale means, to m,
brow. But here's your money, AM
III al do as you like"
So the colloquy ended.
The next afternoon when Mr.. Caml
tme home to dinner, his wife led hin
to the parlor and triumphantly ex
.bited to him two very elegant easy
iairs, covered with crimson Gamask
he gentleman admired them as q mat
r of course, then carelessly inquire,
wv much she had paid for them. Mrs
amps bright face clouded a little a
e said, half apologetically:
SCI gave q little more than I expecte,
but they are such beauties. Mrs
cane bid against me, too, and I wa
termined she shouldn't have them
ley'd look nice, to be sure, on her oil
led carpet! I had to pay $50 for tn
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