Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-01-20
" BRO. LYMAN'S MONKEY"
How He Helped Along MIRO
Grigson's Auction Sale.

Grigson's Auction Sale.
The orange glow of the March twi-
light threw tho lcaHcss copscs into
strong relief; the little brook had burst
its thick crust of ice. and sang merrily
under tho velvet fringes of tho pussy
willows, and up from the woods there
camo an indescribablc odor of spring.
A red flag, rolled up and tied around
its stick by hemp string, lay just in
side the door-yard, when Mrs. Grigson
came in with the last pail Of water that
she should over draw from the old we'll.
She sighed rs she filled the squat cop
per kettle and hung it over the fire.
1.-The auction sale is to be to-mor-
row." said she, land / never was so
glad Of anything in all my born days.
Sech time as I've had clcanin' up and
scrubbin' down and scourin' and pol
ishin'! There amt bono in my body
but aches"
Its all time and trouble thrown
away" sepulchrally z observed Miss
Ketchum, who had dropped in on her
way from the store; 1.-The old traps
won't sell for sixpence apiecc-you see
il they do"
"But the things amt no use to me, p"
said Mrs. Grigson, land i necd little
money so awful bad! As for the poor
luck I've had, right straight through,
there amt no calculatin' it. Ell was
to tell you, MaGtha Ketchum, you
wouldn't believe it. Even down to my
last gold dollarv'
"Eh?" said Miss Kctchum. Being oil
a melancholy turn, she liked to hear
sad recitals, although personally hel
sympathics we're enlisted on the widow
Grigson's side.
"Why, 1t was last week." said Mrs.
Grigson. in tho level complaining tone
that Away reminded you Of the little
brook down in the hollow, "brothol
Lyman left his little Brazil monkey
here over night. He was a-calculatin'
to sell it to Mrs. Gartney's little boy,
John Henry. And eff you'll believe me.
the mis- able critter swallowed the gold
dollar l left on my bureau to pay the
meat peddler with. and dropped my
silver specs down the we'll"
LA" said Miss Ketchum.
ii seen him champin' It between his
jaws" said Mrs. Grigson, land shake
and squeeze him as would. l couldn't
get it out of himr'
"Well, I never didr remarked the
guest.
1T seems as Of that was the last
straw that broke tho camel's back"
sighed Mrs. Grigson. Brother Lyman
he was dreadful consumed about it,
but he couldn't do nothin' for me. He
offered to kill the monkey. but knowed
how disappointed John Henry CARNEY
would be. and, arter all, the critter had
only acted accordin' to his natur', and
they was to pay brother Lyman = dol
lar and half for him. As for the
specs, brother Lyman ishod 'em up
with long pole with a crooked pin
hitched on to the end ont. The glasses
was broke, but the frames Is good yet
I'm calkilatn' to get 'em mcnded
when"
wonder how much the feather
bcds'll 20 fora" said Miss Ketchum,
breaking in on the monotonous refrain.
There amt no tellin'," said Mrs
Grigson. They're dreadful old. Aunt
Mittablc she'd KEEP house for forty
year, and never had nothin' new.
don't s'pose an auction sale will pay,
but what else could do with all tho
old duds' Squire Daggett wants pos
session Of the place at once, and"
"Ain't gwinc to sell these ere house
plants, be YEP" said Miss Kctchum,
nodding toward q green-painted stand
In tho corner.
3 Brother Lyman thought they NIGH.
fetch few cents" said Mrs. Grigson.
"And the stand ought to be worth .
quarter of o dollar. It had new coat
of paint year ago. I give ono J'ru-
salem chcrry.tree to Abigail Barton for
helpin' me to clean out the old cup
boards. She's been dreadful neigh
borly, and she wouldn't take . penny
for what she did"
more fool shc,' CURLY observed
Miss Kctchum I'D like that thar
monthly rose with tho striped blooms
on It."
ut IS pretty" said Miss Grigsou, ig-
noring the broad hint. "And / guess
it'll sell cheap. I'd like some friend 10
hev II, for the slip It growed from was
give me by Grigson the very first year
we was married"
And as she was not invited to stay to
tea, Miss Ketchum at last went away,
leaving Mrs. Grigson sitting sorrowful-
~ before tho FIRE of discarded barrel
slaves, ruinous packing boxes, ancient
chair legs and wooden stools which had
. absolutely refused to be made capable
Of further service. Aunt Miotablo''---