The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-28
STREET PIcKINGS.

The express companies call II "old
Horse but TO the masses IL is known
simply as the heterogeneous pile of stun
which is sent through the express offices
and which is sold to the highest bidder
TO pay for the charges, never having been
called for by those to whom the packages
are addressed. a man bids for a bundle
and it is knocked down to him for
small sum. He doesn't know what he has
bought until he opens the package. ard
then there are some amusing discoveries.
There was one of these sales yesterSy at
one Of the express offices and as usual
there was large number Of bidders for
the several packages and bundles. Every
body was there to get something for moth
ing. Ten years ago, in a sale in New
York. a man bought a package Of money
containing $4,000 for 60 cents and that has
made ready sale for odd horse ever
since. No more packages OF money have
turned up. however.
At the sale yesterday there was put I'D
for sale a large. obiong-shaped bundle
that was so nicely tied up that there was
spirited bidding for IL. Some one started
it at 81 and it was raised in few minutes
to $3.50 Everybody wanted IL, because
/, he thought some one else wanted IL. That
is always the way auction sale.
Well. finally the price OF the bundle was
raised beyond the pile of the bidders one
by one and it was knocked down TO a
young business. who is unmarried. There
was great excitement Some man offered
him a dollar for his bargain, but II was
refused with scorn. Everybody insisted
that il be opened right there and at last
the purchaser acceded to the general de-
mand. He was little anxious himself to
know what was the nature Of his valuable
purchase The papers were taken on one
by one and the eager crowd surged back
n fIe Rrse
view of the treas sure when il was brought
to light. When he came TO the last piece
OF paper his hand was trembling and there
was deathly stiffness in the room. The
sale, had OF course. been stopped. The pa
per was lifted and the treasure revealed
a babys coffin. And he spent the rest OF
the day visiting the undertakers trying 10
get them 10 take it off his hands. The
highest bid he got for it 50 cents. All
can't draw prizes. even in an "old horse
sale.
In the evening when from business cares
The mind would fain De free
How it turns TO hours of childhood
That were spent on mothers knee.
That dear old face, so beautiful.
Though lined and scanned with care
It's gone now; and before the hearth
There stands vacant chair.
How she'd take on her knee. and.
As we gazed up i'm her face,
She would utter words of comfort
That even time cannot effsce.
And then again. the mind fills up
With echoes OF those sounds
When she'd turn mp across her knee
With our faces upside down.
CTo be sung 70 the tune. That Is Love"l
Two men were struggling in the dark in
deady-fght,
The neighborhood for blocks around was
in-a-fright.
4 pistol shot rang out upon the cold
Goodnight.
That was all-That was all.
II.
4 man lay dead upon the street robbed
of-his-wealth,
Policemen ran up swiftly to the scene
of-death.
And when they got there stopped to only
atch-their-breath
That was all-That was all.