The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-28
AN AUCTION SALE.

There were stir and excitement in th,
village of Two Hills Granny Lennon
mite Of possessions was to be- put up a
auction. $
Granny Lemons daughter had diet
owing money and owning furniture.
was only right to the dead woman tha
the slur of debt should be removed from
her name
Justice was bound TO be hard O,
Granny and the baby. There was not /
doubt I'm the mind OF the villagers tina
Granny and the baby would have TO b,
dispatched to the county poorhouse.
One by one the effects Of the Lat,
Mary Ann were knocked down TO tn,
neighlors- The last article sold was
broom which was nearly all handle
was knocked down TO broad shoulderei
man, who had put upon it the tremen
dous bid of 90 cents
| Mary Ann Lemon was his gal once, y
said an old inhabitant of Two Hills
Shed best heap a took him, I" saiG
some one else. He'd "a kept her com
1 UOuAAu 1uo O1<1ChbkIl1tA1
The auctioneer had entered the cot
tage to make sure that all the furniture
| had been put up at the sale. Everything
was gone. Only for granny and the baby
the little room was empty.
The old woman sat upon the steps
leading to the door above. She was hold
ing the baby in her arms.
The auctioneer was not considered an
odd man, but he was man of impulse,
big and bold when the impulse took hold
Of him. He hesitated a moment, look.
ing at the old woman and the baby.
Then he went forward suddenly and
picked the baby out of Che old woman i
| arms.
"I've got an idee, granny The
a1ctioneer stepped to the door after ut.
| tering these consolatory words and
mounted the table, which had already
been sold, with the baby clinging fast
to his neck.
Now here's fine piece o. ware, "
he called out loudly. This baby's
a-gunno save its old granny from the
poor's house, that's what it's a-gunno
do. Who'll put big bid ON q rosy
checked, hearty baby? Say, what,,ll you
bid?" The people did not comprehend.
There was silence in the crowd.
''I'm not I'm fer acceptin q little
bid, roared the auctioneer. 'sI don't
want no offerin of dollars or cents, ]
want hundreds o. dollars Some people
would hand ont q power o. money FER q
baby like this'n. Amt there nobody
in Two Hills what's hungerin fer q
baby?"
"Five hundred dollarsr' called q
voice i'm the crowd.
The villagers turned with one accord
and stared at the blacksmith. What
did Sam Winters want with baby
He hadn't any wife to look after ID.
The grocer's wife pulled her husband
by the arm and whispered, "What'd
we give fer baby like that, John?''
Make il $700p' said the grocer.
''Seven hundred dollars!' shouted the
auctioneea. "Seven hundred dollars fer
to pervids fer old nanny all her life
No wonder she's a-laughin at you.
The Lemons, as a rule, Is long lived
Make 1t a thousand Come, who'll
make IL a thousand?,'
"Ons thousand dollarsp' said the
Blacksmith.
"Ols thousand dollarsl Coin, goin,
goin Tor $1,000. She's worth more'n
$1,000. She'll give body more'n 81
900 tyuth of satisfaction. Look at her
now You've skeered her. She's as
purity when she cries as when she
laughs. -
The little maid was puckering mp her
fac5; the tears were filing her great
dark eyes. She put up her little Fat
fists and hid her eyes as the auctioneer
again turned her TO the crowd
At this moment carriage that was
about TO pass came to a standstill, a
h-eried footman sprang to the door, and
the great people Of Two Hills came pill.
Ing out.
'Yes, il is true cried the young
lady, with pretty, excited face. .sThey
are actually selling babyl Tom. lool
aA the baby,
stGoin, goin, goin, for sl, 900. the
rsett1est baby In Two Hills, the money
10 keep its old grandmother from the
pOorhouselp
Eleven hundred, y cried the young
| lndy. waving her black gloved hand
fsantically.
The blacksmith bid as high as 81, 800,
the rich lady made 1t OIL, 900, and thu
man turned and walked away.
''Gone to Mira Eustice at Oh, 900, =
said the auctioneer, making fine bow,
but looking a. IL he didn't know whai
| TO do with the baby.
But the great Lady ran MP to the auo
ssoneer and received her property i'm hea
az1ns
| G'anny's baby went through awonder
fnl transformation during the following
week, and the people in Two Hills talk
cd about the ''luck" that had befaller
both Mary AIMS offspring and Granny
Lemon.
But Granny Lemons spirits had no
risen with the knowledge that she wa
not to 10 20 the poorhouse. Indeed 4
was suspected that Granny Lsmol
hardly realized the blessing that had be
fnHleal her Since thA f3av of tho Gala Nh,