Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-11-09

and was finally knocked down at ten
and half; an oleander was bid up
to three half dozen spindling fish
geraniums varied from fifty cents to
dollar each, and ten callas and a
sickly carnatlon were bought by Miss
Dora Daggett at seventy-five cents
each; and the surplusage of pallid
primroses and cactus monstrosities
was Jumped at dollar to Mr.. Tows,
whose door-yard was laid out in car
rots and parsnips, and who did not
know pokeberry bush from holly
bush.
ssBe folks mad % said breathless
Mrs. Grigson.
The proceeds of the flower stand
amounted to eighteen dollars, and
the purchasers eagerly seized their
property and carried it off, as if un-
willing to let it out of their sight, and
the sale went briskly on.
"Well, Naomi" said brother Ly
man, chuckling, when the ''vendoo'
was over, show much did you ex-
peck to git for Aunt Mittable's
things?"
Il did hope for fifty dollars, all
told," said Mrs. Grigson. ''But
Miss Ketchum said / was fool for
calkilatin' on any sech sum.
''What dye say TO two hundred?"
said brother Lyman gleefully.
"Whatw shrieked Mrs. Grigson.
"Lyman, you're a-pokin' fun at me-"
ssNo, l ain't,'' cheerfully spoke
up brother Lyman. ''Its two hun
dred and fifteen dollars and eighty
eight cents; that's what it is Oh,
eff ye'd only seen the women-folks
carryin' out Aunt Mittable's house
plants nugged up close to 'em, like
they was little babies p
Brother Lyman stopped to shake
all over with a spsecies of inaudible
laughter which convulsed him as tho
he was mold of jelly.
1.-TWO hundred and fifteen dollars -
gasped Mrs. Grigson. "lts like a
dream.
The auctioneer counted out the
bills into the good woman's toll
hardened hands.
q congratulate you, ma'am,"
said he.
''Are you sure there amt no mis-
take?" said Mrs. Grigson.
sQuite sure, ma'am.'
'Well, l don't nohow understand
it," SAID the widow, slowly shaking
her head. s'P'raps, MIR. Pulfield,
you can explain it to me"
The auctioneer looked around,
winked one eye solemnly, and twirl-
ed his quill pen backward and for
ward
.:sNo one here?" said he.
mot a SOUL" declared brother Ly-
| man.
Everybody gomez
eyes, everybody"
s'Then look here said the auc-
tioneer. 81 couldn't help catchin' a
word now and then; and it want no
business of mine to intefere."
Il don't understand" said Mrs.
Grigson, more bewildered than ever.
''Don't ye, now? Well, less see if
| can't make it clear t'ye," said Mr..
Pulfeld. ''Ahigail Barton, she was
whisperin' to Deacon PIimpton' $
widow how't she found little gold
dollar buried in the earth to a flower
pOl tfldt uellt IL u luotiCin CHSIi tiCC
you give her; and it went from one
to another like wild-fre. Oh, yes,
Mrs. Grigson, your Aunt Mittable
was a good woman, but awful queer.
And every man, woman and child
will be rippin' open feather-beds,
diggin up house-plants, and pokin
into cheer seats and bureau drawers
for hidden treasure. Seer"
"You don't s'pose-" cried Mrs.
Grigson.
eyes, / do s'pose," said the auc-
tioneer. s'If folks will be fools.
there amt no way of preventin EN-
as ever | knowed of. And / wish
'em good luck findin' what your aunt
Mittable has hid there
"Well, / declared said Mrs.
Grigson.
"Your things hev sold very well,
ma'am," said Mr.. Pulfeld, buttoning
up bis coat. 81 don't know when
we've had such a successful auction
sale in the neighborhood."
Mrs. Grigson went back to the city
feeling richer than any capitalist.
And not until the train was running
into the New Haven depot did she
start from her seat in the corner of
the car ''It was the monkey" she
said, speaking aloud in the sudden
enlightenment of her soul" brother
Lymans monkey And there was
me, poor, simple critter, a repinin
agin the mischief he had done p
The other passengers stared dubi-
ously at her, wondering if they had
come all the way from Feltville -Four
Corners with crazy woman. An
old woman took up basket and a
hawl-strap and went to the other
end of the car.
But they need not have been alarm
ed. Mrs. Grigson was not crazy.
"Pa," said Johnny Caution, "do
you remember that poem about "A
Chieftain to the Highlands Bound,
telling the sculler to bump hisself be-
II T..