The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-03
AN AUCTION SALE.

There wero stir and excitemont in the
village of Two Hills. Granny Lemon 5
mito of possessions was to DO put up mt
auction.
Granny Lemons daughter had died
was only right to the dead woman that
the Slur of debt should be removed from
her name.
Justice was bound to DO hard OIL
Granny and tho baby. There was not "a
doubt i'll the mind of the Villagers that
Granny and the baby would have to DO
dispatched to the county poorhouse.
One by one the effects of the late
Mary Ann were knocked down to the
neighbors The last article sold was a
broom which was nearly all handle 1t
was knocked down to ~ broad tShouldcrcd
man, who had put upon it the tremcn-
dous bid of 30 cents.
MARY Ann Lemon was his gal once"
said an old inhabitant of Two Hills
Shed best heap "a took him, said
some one else He'd "a kept her COM
Portable behind the blacksmith shop"
The auctioncer 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 auctiOncer was not considered an
odd aHaii, but he was u man of impulse,
big and bold when the impulse took hold
of him. He hesitated moment, look
ing ut the old woman and the baby.
Then he went forward suddenly and
picked the baby out of tho old woman's
arms.
I've got an idec, granny" The
auctioneer 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 babv's
a-gunno save its old granny from the
poors house, that's what it's a-gunno
do. Who'll put big bid on rJsy
checked, hearty baby? Say, what'll you
bid:' Tho people did not comprehend
There was silence III the crowd.
I'm not in fer acceptin little
bid, " roared the auctioncer. 81 don't
want no otferin of dollars or cents,
want hundreds o. dollars. Some people
would hand out power o. money fer a
baby like this'n. Amt there nobody
i'll Two Hills what's hungerin fer a
baby?"
Five hundred dollnrs" called q
voice in the crowd.
The villagers turned with one accord
and stared at tho blacksmith. What
did Sam Winters want with baby?
He hadn't any wife to look after it,
The grocer's wife pulled her husband
by the arm and whispered, "What'd
we give fer baby like that, john
make it $780," said the gDccr
"Seven hundred dollarsn shouted tho
auctionecr. "Sevcn hundred dollars fer
to pervidc fer old nanny all her life
No wonder she's a-laughin at YOU
The Lemons, as Il rule, is long lived
Make it a thousand. Come, who'll
make it q thousmd:'
''One thousand dollarsI' said the
blacksmith.
"One thousand dollars! Coin, goin,
goin for $1,000. She's worth more II
$1,000. She'll give body morr'n 81,
600 wuth of satisfaction. Look ut her
now. You've skecrcd her. She's as
purity when she cries as when she
laughs.
The little maid was pickering up her
face; the tears were filling her great
dark eyes. She put up her little fat
fists and hid her eyes as the auctionoer
again turned her to the crowd.
AT this moment % carriage that WIS
about to pass came to standstill, Il
liycricd footnan sprang TO the door, and
the great people of Two Hills came nil
ing out
eyes, it is true" cried the Young
lady, with a pretty, excited face. They
are actually selling baby. Tom. look
at the baby
Coin, goin, goin, for 81 900, the
pretticst baby i'll Two Hills tho money
to keep its old grandmother from the
poorhousc!'
Eleven hundred" cried the young
lady, waving her black glovcd hand
frantically.
The blacksmith bid as high rs 81, 500,
the rich lady made it 81, 600, and tho
man turned and walked away.
Gone to Mrs Eustice at $1,000"
said the auctioneer, making fine bow,
but looking as if he didn't know what
to do with the baby.
But the great lady ran up to tho auc-
tioncer and received her property in her
arms