Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-07-07
identified.

A red flag futtering opposite the door
of an old farmhouse draws q crowd.
Even the victims of former auction sales
cannot stay away, though they know
from experience that he who enters
leaves his wits behind. A public sale at
a prerevolutionary house into which had
d1ifted Mayfower chest and bed
upon which Washington had slept at
tracted the attention Of DR.. Abbott, who
tells in 'tRecent Rambles" how he ven
tured inside and what was the result of
his temerity.
While willow pattern china was being
sold he discovered curious piece of
polished, crooked mahogany lying be-
tween soup tureens and gravyboats. On
picking it up and scanning it closely his
first thought was, What curious paper
knifei
"What is it?' asked an jnquisitive old
lady as he tucked it be:..lid pile of
plates.
The wooden wonder was brought to
light again. cts an old fashioned wood
en- butter knife" said she. GIVE seen
'em afore this. Don't you know, in old
times, it wasn't everybody as had silver,
and mahogany knives for butter was
put on the table for big folks. We folks
each used our own knife"
"What is itY' asked still older lady.
IA colonial butter knife" replied the
doctor with an air of antiquarian lore.
IA butter knife! No such thing" an
swered this lady. My grandfather had
one just like this, and it's a pruning
knife. He wouldn't use a steel knife
cause it poisoned the sap"
The auctoneer at last took it in his
hand, looked at it with puzzled express
sion and cried:
"What is bid for this?"
It started at dime, and the doctor Sc.
cured it for 25 cents He took it home
rubbed the gummy surface with kero
sene, polished it with flannel, rubbed il
with warm water and toothbrush an6
then gave it long, dry polishing. Their
lily with triumphant ''See there!''
"Why, papa,'' cried the youngest
daughter, tits the back of hairbrush.
And it was.
1t Was Fate.
The weary wayfarer had stopped tn
pedestrian and told him his tale of woe
and it was really piteous tale. He hat
nothing to eat since the previous morn
ing and was nearly famished.
The pedestrians heart was touched
and he rendered the weary wayfarer {
dime, but the latter hesitated.
couldn't you give me something
else?" he asked family.
''Too small?'' asked the pedestrian
sharply.
"No, sir; not at ALL" replied tn
weary wayfarer. "But couldn't yo'
give it to me in nickels?"
why, you impertinent scoundrel, i
you don't WANT
"Oh, yes, sir; yes, sir; IN take it" in
terrupted the weary wayfarer. "It'
not your fault! It's fate! That's what
is! Fate! Oh, it's an accursed device,
he added bitterly as he took a dim
savings bank from his pocket and sliI
ped the coin into it. II swore I'd pu
every dime got into that, and l hav
been given so cents this morning an
haven't had bite to eat yet"
He gave the bank vicious jerk an
| started on to look for nickel or a qual
| ter.-Truth
The Hitch,
els he as attractive as ever?'
eyes"
care you going to marry him?"
II don't know"
''Don't know! should think you wer
old enough to make up your mind"
"Oh, it is easy enough to make up m
mind, but don't know whether shal
marry him or not"
"Why not?"
HE hasn't made up his mind. Tit