Frostburg mining journal., 1883-09-01

pockets at the moment.
But, as I have said before, some-
thing made me think, and ever since
I haven't the same heart to cry away
the goods of the poor creatures that
want and misery have driven into old
Two to Ones clutches.
The city Of B is a splendid
market for our business. The trade
done there by one house alone would
discount any banking, commission or
other business in the place, and by
the same token, the pawnbrokers
equal us in power and profit, and give
US some Of our biggest sales.
An odd lot came into the wareroom
one day, consigned to US by Clutchem
& Keep, a shrewd firm Of new be-
ginuers, and as it fell to my duty to
aasort aud label the goods, it thus also
fell to my fate to have part in the
following story:
Tile consignment consisted mainly
of glass and silverware, pictures and
bronzes, as Ciutchem & Keep were
rather first-class in their busine ess, and
did not yet condescend to family BIZ
bles but in the lot / came across a
few pieces of furniture, which at
tracted my attention from the fact OF
having an order from Western house
to pick up all the antique oddities
ahoat, for a bric.a-brac firm.
Here were about dozen specimens
of claw.legs, stick k-backs, and other
wise uncomfortable household articles
in the shape of chairs, dressing-glass
es and cabinets, and / at once labled
them sold, that they might not get in
to next days sale, but be forwarded
at once to our Western house.
One article alone I noticed with at
tention enough to remember after
ward, and then only because I struck
my hand roughly against it, and the
pain made me stare hard at the cause
of it. 1t was an old cedar cabinet,
trass, bound and clamped, but rusty
and forlorn looking enough in it's
changed fortunes. I labled it, as l
thought, for our next days sale, as
there were two others to 60 West, and
the home market was going as crazy
for everything old, but parents and
friends, as either. the West or North.
But subsequent events discovered
my mistake. Our Saturday sale was
a big one-the rival house across on
the corner hadn't a chance against US
that day--and by noon every article
put up was bid off lively and quick.
The crowd had begun to thin, and
l was busily mopping my wet face
with fresh handkerchief-for it is
warm work, can tell you, to cry such
sales from ten to one o'clock-when
a lady cane back in the store where
l was standing and approached me
eagerly
care you the proprietor, sir ?" she
asked, with nervous haste, and l saw
she was trembling.
~ am the suctioneer, madam" 1
said, wondering what was wrong. I'll
will call the firm, if you wish"
She looked around, timidly but
eagerly.
Perhaps you can attend to my
business. I-I-d-not-u understand
--these-mstters-very we'll, she
faltered and then l saw she was
poorly clad, although well bred and
timid.
l drew an old chair up into the
corner, and asked her to sit down,
and as she did SO gratefully-poor
little woman II took good look at
her. She was still young and pretty.
Behind her hung long mirror. 1t
had grown dim hanging there, and
had misty shadow over it, and in
the two angles of the corner stood a
faded old Japanese screen and tall
chest of drawers.
The store was now empty, and the
light was leaving it, as the sun was
creeping away from the door-sill and
mounting up to the roof, as if it had
only waited for the sale to be over.
The lady had face that touched
me at once. She was pale and timid,
but there was that in her face that
made me take off my hat while l
talked to her. l don't know how to
express it ; but il was as if stood in
the presence of death. and the natur-
al reverence for that great mystery
commanded my respect.
uWbot oan T do for Won. madam 7"