, 1885-11-01

down in his family carry-all with
the six Misses Daggett The
parson and the parsons vito
were there. punching pillows and In.
specting bolster and counting cups and
saucers. A man who was vaguely re.
ported to be an emissary from an old
curiosity shop In the city was prowling
abou, with a memorandum book under
his arm Everybody was there. even
down to the village fool. who had been
allowed to come with her grandmother.
under solemn promise of "not speaking a
word the whole time. - In her especial
corner Abigan Barton was whispering to
n kno Of eager women with much cN'
cited gesticulation. and close by the high
wooden mantle sat poor Mrs. Grigson in
her best gown. trembling a little. she
scarcely knew why.
Aunt Mittable was always partial to
auction vendoos. y said she to herself.
at does seem AS cf she'd ought 10 be
here. "
And she thought Of the lonely grave
under last years weedy mullen stalks in
the neg ected Garner Of the church yard.
and sighed.
IN set a rose o sharon there as soon
rs the spring fairly OPENS. " mused she
Aunt Mittable always liked flowers. "
And the crowd around Abigail Barton
increased. and a sort of intangible thrill
went through the rooms like an electric
current
is anything wrong" Mrs Grigsan
asked, %nervously. ~Hlev they heard any
newsy"
~ seen 1t myself she could hca-
Abigail saying Eve rot It to hum in my
pocket book. I've always heard that she
was queer. aud / shouldn't wonder If
that was the way she'd boarded up
Mrs Grigson rose to join the group.
but just then the auctioncers voice
drowned all else in its high sing song
drone Now, then. ladies and gentle
men. If you please. aud the sale began in
good earnest.
The breadths OF well-worn rag carpet
brought a pitiful sum. but the four hair
cloth cheers in the best parlor. and a
certain uncompromising sofa of the same
slippery material, realized $50. and the
wooden clock was bid up to 50. so by
Squire Daggett himself.
ale ant know that the machinerys
clear worn out and it hain't struck in six
months. said Mrs Grigson 81 don't
know but it's my duty to tell him.
Hold your tongue. Naomi. " wills.
pcred Brother Lyman. who. with his
hands in his pockets. was fattened up
against the wall 81 guess all the neigh
bors %hereabouts know as much about
Aunt Mittables clock as you do.
Eight dollars for the old feather bed
Folks must be crazy" said Mrs. Grigson.
And 81 apiece for them worn-out bed
quilts Is the word n comm 10 al eudt'
But when they came to the stand of
house plants. Mrs Grigson's amazemont
reached its eliminating point TIT
striped monthly rose brough 81 n -tumpy
old lemon bush in a green tub which had
never been suspected Of the f~aiutest in
clination to bloom, ran up to 81 Il
myrtle tree assembled the scale, and was
finally knocked down at $10.50; an
olcander was bid up to 80. half n dozen
spindling fish. gerauiums varied from 80
cents to 81 each, and ten callas and a
sickly %carnation were bought by Miss
Dora Daggett at 80 cents each. and the
surplusago OF pallid primroses and cactus
monstrositics was Jumped at 81 TO Mr.
Tows. whose door-yard was laid out in
carrots and parsnips. and who did not
know Il pokeberry bush from a holly
bush.
abe folks msd2p said breathless Mrs.
Grigson
The proceeds of the flower stand
amounted to S1S. and the purchasers
eagerly seized their property and carried
it OF. as If unwilling to let it out OF their
sight. and the sale went briskly on.
well, Naomi. - said Brother Lyman.
chuckling. when the "vcndoo" was over,
how much did ye expeck to git for Aunt
Mitiable's %thingsl"
II did hope for $50. all told. said
Mrs Grigson. ~But Miss Ketchum said
| was a fool for calkilatin' on any sech
amount
"What dye say to s2OO2" said Brother
Lyman. gleefully.
What" shrieked Mrs, Grigson. ~Iy
man, you're a-pokin' fun at me
NO. l ain I. " cheerfully spoke up
brother Lyman. ats $31j.ss. that's
what it Isl oh, Of ye'd only seen the
women folks a-carryin' out Aunt Militia
b'c's house plants Rugged up close to EN-,
like they were little babiesl"
Brother Lyman stopped to shake all
over with n species of imaginable laugh
ter which convulsed him as II II he were
q mould of Jelly.
Two hundred aud fifteen dollarsl"
gaspcd Mrs. Grigson. Its like a dream. A"
The auctioneer counted out the bills
into the good woman's toll hardened
hands.
II congratulate you, ma'am, " said he
Are YOU sure there amt no mistaken"
said Mrs. Grigson.
quite sure, ma'am. "
well, | don't nohow understand it, p"
said the widow. slowly shaking her head
"Pr'aps. Mr. Pulled, you can explain it
to me.
The auctioneer looked around. winked
one eye solemnly. and twirled his quill
pen backward and forward.
@No one hcreY" said he.
Not a soul. " declared Brother Lyman.
Everybody gone2'
"Nes. everybody.
AMI, l..1 Iara - aufl tI. a,aaFfura,H
Il couldn't help catchin a word here
and there. and It want no business Of
mine 10 interfere "
81 don understand, - said Mrs Orig
son. more bcwildered than ever.
Don't ye. now Well, less see If |
can't make it clear { ys. - said Mr. Pul
field Abigail Barton she was n wills
perrin to Deacon plimpton's widow howt
She found IA little gold dollar buried in the
earth Of the flower pot that held "A Jrusa
lem cherry Tree you give her and II went
from one 10 another like wild fire. oh
yes. Mrs Grigson. your Aunt Mittablc
was a good woman. "A very good woman,
but awfully queer. And now every man
woman. aud child will rippin open
feather beds. diggin' up house plants.
and pokin into cheer seats aud bureau
drawers for hidden treasure. SecY'
"You dom spose-" cried Mrs Orig
son.
~Yes. | do s'pose. - said the anctionccr,
If folks will he fools. there amt no way
Of prevcntin' en- as ever | knowed oil.
And ! wish en- good luck lindin' what
your Aunt Mittabe has hid there -
well. | declare" said Mrs Grigson.
Your things hcv sold very well,
ma'am ~ said Mir Pulneld. buttoning mp
his boat "I don't know when we've had
such "a successful auction sale in the
ncirhbarhoud
Mrs Grisson went back TO the city feel
ing richer Than any capitalist Aud not
until The train vas running into the New
Haven iepot did she start wildly from her
seat in the corner of the Ca 1t was Tho
CURE FOH PILES
Piles are frequently preceded by a sense
of want of weight in the back, loins and