Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-28

managed to meet occasionally for the eX-
change of their laments over the present
condition of affairs and mutual assurance
OF eternal fidelity. Robert declared he
believed that when the rest of the devil
possessed swine ran down into the sea
and persisted that brown sbOat escaped
from the drove and had been making mis-
chief ever since; but 1t stood to reason
that the shoat. being dead. lis works
should die with IL, and he clamored loudly,
but in vain, for peace.
So matters stood when Farmer Christy
"acceded TO the urgent solicitations of mis-
fellow citizens" as the customary phrase
runs, and became candidate for nomina-
tion to the Shrlevalty. 1t had long been
his ambition to be Sheriff, and never had
he wished it more than since be hoped to
get Judgment on that note of Farmer
Astwick's. The slate had all been made
out In advance by the local managers OF
the party, according to immemorial pre-
cedent, and the delegates TO the county
convention nominated him by acclama-
tion, unanimously. AS may readily be
conceived, Farmer Astwick was not a
delegate. In fact, he belonged to the
opposition party.
Farmer Christy worried much mentally,
In advance, over his speech of acceptance
thought outtwO or three real good rausing
speeches at night In bed, but they always
slipped from his memory the next day,
and when he faced the convention to
speak, he was, in reality, quite as "un-
prepared" as he said he was. He had
never heard much oratory except the
sermons to which he had listened pretty
nearly every Sunday siuce he was boy,
and the only public speaking he had done
oA
and not much of that. Consequently, 1t
was not strange that he should have
tendency TO lay out his speech to the con-
Venton on something OF the general lines
OF sermon, MANY are called, but few
are chosen,' occurred 10 him as a good
text 10 start in with, but Andy Maginnis,
who managed his political career, said it
didn't seem to him to "match the play"
and 1t would probably be better for him
TO 'Just sail IN witpoutany regular text"
which he did. But when once started ne
could not help drifting into the sermon
style. and in speaking OF the duty of
ofhcials to protect the interests of the
humblest and poorest OF the community
as we'll as the richest, he lugged in the
parable OF the unjust steward and the
touching story OF the rich man who
took the poor mans eve lamb. That
was most unfortunate allusion, for
Farmer Astwick heard of it, and at his in
stigation--and indeed at his eXpense-the
local opposition paper came out the next
week with rough but taking cartoon. 1t
was a picture of an amazingly wretched
looking sheep. beneath sign, 1.-The kind
OF sheep Christy pays his bets WITH"
and under 1t the inscription, "rhe Poor
Mans Eve Lamb" That revived the
memory of the old joke, and the farmers
all about, irrespective OF party, roared
with laughter, the hit being just OF
the sort that they could comprehend
and appreciate. Farmer Chrsty found
himself in danger of being laughed out OF
the field and began TO wish secretly, bat
heartily, that no brown shOat had ever
come between him and his sarcastic for.
mer friend.
just about this time the financial cloud
that had long been lowering over the head
of Biz Slumlev burst, and the storm de-
scended upon him in the form OF Sheritf's
sale, or "yendue," as such affairs are gen.
orally styled in the country. A ''vandOo''
i an event that nobody wants to miss in
the rural districts. The bucolic mind b as
mo bid yearning for ''vandoo' as 1t
would also have, were the opportunity
afforded. to attend a pOst-mortem on a
peighbor. to see him opened and learn
what sort of works be had inside him.
The vendue is of the nature OF post
mortem. 1t mercilessly lays bare the
poverty OF the means by which the poor
wretch who is being ''so!d outs main.
tanned his hard struggle with fate until
his Observation-Disclosures There may
be little pity for him, but there is far
more curiosity. And there is also a hope
for bargains. His belongings, poor as
they can be, Will certainly be sold for but
1.-THE of the little they are worth.
When the auctioneer h ad finished SELL
Ing off the few worn and battered uten-
sils IN the kitchen, he led the crowd into
the front room. where most of the remain
ing portable effects of the Slumley family
were gathered. Then Mrs. Slumley glided
down into the Kitchen from the garrett
where she had been hiding from the
cruelty inquisitive eyes of her neigh bors,
and sat upon a rIckety chair that already
belonged to somebody else. She seemed
to he listening for something. The loud
clatter of the auctioneer's voice, his
coarse jokes and the laughter of the people
reached her ears. Presently she started
up, went to the door, held it little aiar
and peered through the crack. The
auctiOneer was selling the little crib In
which ner baby boy had died. Softly she
closed the door, staggered back to her
chair and sank down upon ii, sobbing.