Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-01
The Auction.

winds whistled fearfully, and hailstones
whose size threatened to demolish thu
windows of the houses, ratified agains
them with determined pertinacity al
if to test their strength. In the parlol
of a fne. old-fashioned house, beside
saiae7 comfortless fire on such 6
night, were seated the family of Mr.
Sunderland, consisting of himself, wife
daughter and faithful maid servant
A heavy gloom, more of sorrow than Of
anger, rested on each brow, not ever
excepting that of the maid servant al
luded to, from whose eager chances
ever anon cast toward the family group
the close observer would have noted
the deep interest she took in the cause
of their grief.
The picture was q melancholy one
for virtue in distress has no light shade
to relieve it; all around and about it i!
dark and sombre. The sensitive arts
would have thrown aside his pencil, i
the subject had been presented to hi
view as we have described il, and hi
heart would have received an impress
sion which could not have been trans
ferred to the canvas.
Tomorrow" observed Mr.. Sunder.
land, sis the anniversary of the melan
choly death of our dear Henry: to-mor
row will be ten years since the vessel
in which he sailed was lost, and all or
board perished-all. ALL"
"Alasr' exclaimd his wife, as the
tears coursed their way down hel
cheeks, tomorrow will be a melan
choly day."
Indeed it will; for tomorrow thi,
house, which belonged to my father
the furniture, which time has made. al
it were, part of our lives, and associ
ated with many pleasing event in oul
lives, is to be sold; torn from us by tn,
unrelenting hands of creditors, but
thank Providence. misfortune, no
crime, has reduced us to this stage O.
poverty"
evil they sell everything, pc; car
we secure nothing?" asked the daugh
ter.
"No! my child, unless with what lit
tie money a friend has generousl,
loaned me, can secure O few articles
Ellen, my dear, take your pencil ant
put them down; first, sideboard, tive
beds, sofa, chairs and kitchen things
The sideboard, it is true, will be to u
now a superfuous piece of furniture
but it belonged to my mother, and
cannot, will not part with it,"
"But my piano, pal must it go?"
The wife sighed, the father cast hi.
eyes toward the Pickering fire, and til,
daughter was silent. The fate of TIL,
piano was decided upon. A melanchol,
pause in the conversation plainly tolt
how severe was the alternative; for tn,
law never studies the feelings of its vic
tims when exacting the penalty of
Sond.
Go, Mary" said Mr.. Sunderland
addressing the servant, Ego and re
quest the Sheriff's officer, who is watch
ing the property, to walk into the par
lor; he is only doing his duty. n,
doubt it is painful to him, as it is dis
tressing to us. Let him have q seat o
our fire, and glass of wine, for it is
severe night"
''It is indeed a fearful night" oh
served Mrs. Sunderland, land we hav,
behaved rude to this man."
Mother, made fire in the room
where he is, but"
"Speak out, child-it was with tn,
last stick"
Father, it was"
Mary returned with the'oficer, a DO
lite, gentlemanly man; for such should
be the character of men who have IL
perform q part in the drama of life, no
unlike that of the inqpisitors of old
whose province it was to torture by the
rack, with this difference, however
theirs was a physical torture; ours &
mental one, administered with all the
nicely and precision of legal justice
The officer politely accepted the invita-
ton, tasted the wine, and endeayored
to cheer his victims by enumeratine
many cases of a similar kind, equally
poignant and distressing. Thus the
evening passed heavily and cheerlessly
away.
On the morning of the contemplated
sale, there was to be seen a crowd OF
people focking to the house of Mr..
Sunderland. Some out of sheer heart.
less curiosity. friends of the family,
who came With mockery on their lips
and empty purses. Others with an in
tent to purchase; but no one in the
crowd showed the least desire to aid. as
sist or sympatLize with the distress OF
the family. This is the world; we laugh