The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-05-27
NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA TUESDAY, MAY 81, 1879

ly puzzed as to what disposition we
should make of 1t. At last happy
thought come to our relief. Joe, the
auctioneer, formed one of our company,
and so we resolved to go up to Newberry
and sell the monster at auction. 1t was
just about the first of the fishing season,
and so we expected to realize hand
some profit, by way Of fun, at least.
When we arrived at the village, we
found about thirty persons assembled
around little grocery. Chuckling over
such a streak of good luck, Joe shoulder
ed the fish, mounted upon the head of
a molasses hogshead, and proceeded to
business.
Now, gentlemen" said he, chow
much do you say to start him 7 Dc /
hear fifty cents Fifty cents! do 1
hear fifty cents?
But they did not say, and poor Joe
cried and went on at an awful rate with
out the least prospect of bid. Seeing
that our chance of speculation was
but slim, we concluded to amuse our
selves by bidding for fun.
Five dollars to start him." said /.
Five dollars-five-five, and agoing
as cheap as dirt; who says more? ?"
e" Ten" says another of our company
" Fifteen 70
And so the bids ran on till they reach
ed thirty dollars-all sham, of course.
Iuct of that ,,,nynarf m talI o,ou,I,,,
looking Hoosier was seen making rapid
strides towards the scene of action.
Having arrived and looked at the fish
on all sides, and listened to " thirty, and
going" he bawled out.
Il say, stranger-you on that 'ar
barrel-I kin do better than that my
self. Jest hold on minute, and let me
hev nuther squint at i'm. By gollyl
jest say fifty, and risk it ~
"Fiftyl fifty !" cried the auctioneer,
astonished at the bid; fifty !-going-
going-gone at fifty"
The fish was handed over to the
Hoosier, who, after looking at old Joe
moment, and smelling to see that his
prize was not spoiled, began to walk off
with it.
"Stop, old fellow! you have not paid
for it !" cried several
"Paid, darnation!' ~ replied the green
one, coming to a halt. "Warn't the
fish gin to meY Didn't L hear you all
guessin' thirty? and didn't 1 guess
fifty p-and I'll bet coon-skin he don't
weigh emmy more; and didn't that old
puss-bellied feller up thar give it to
me ?''
" No, MOI" exclaimed old Joe, while
we were all holding our sides, ''you bid
fifty dollars for that fish, and you've
got it to pay"
After q sour look, and q frown that
was intended to tell how indignant he
felt, the Hoosier replied:
elf yer Ingin enough to take thing
back arter givin' it to a feller, take it;
and suiting the action to the word, he
threw it at the auctioneer with all his
strength. Our corpulent friend having
no desire to come in contact with
Eying fish, leaped as high as he could,
and when he came down, the hogshead
top gave way beneath his weight, and
in the next instant, he was fioundering
about up to his chin in molasses.
TIE, he, he !" roared the Hoosier, as
he made tracks off in the way he had
come. "Te he, he! now your in a sweet
pickle!''
And so he was. With much difficult
ty we succeeded in extricating him,
after which we paid the damage, and
started in search of water, resolving
never again, under any circumstances,
to set up fishing-market in Newberry,