The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-11-24
AN AUCTION SALE.

mite Of possessions was to be put up at
auction.
Granny Lemons daughter had died
ewing money and owning furniture. 1t
was only right to the dead woman that
the slur os debt should be removed from
her name.
Justice was bound to be hard On
Granny and the baby. There was not a
doubt III the mind of the villagers that
Granny and the baby would have to he
dispatched to the county poorhouse.
One by oile the effects of the late
Mary Ann Were knocked down to the
~neishbors. The last article sold was a
Brooo, which was nearly all handle. t
was Knocked Down TO broad shouldered
ma,l, who had put upon it the trenen-
dous bid of 60 cents.
Mary Al. Lemon was his gal once"
said All OH ~irhabitant of Two Hills.
Shed best heap "a took him." said
some one else. He'd "a kept her COM
Portable bchild the blacksmith shop"
Tie auctioneer had entered the cot
tage to make sure that all the furniture
had been put up ut the sale. Everything
was solse. 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 i'll her arms.
The auctionecr was not considered an
.cdd man, but he was a rls:n of impulse,
big and bold when the impulse took hold
of him. He hesitated Ii moment, look
ing at tho old Oman and the baby.
Then he went forward suddenly and
picked the baby out Of the old woma1's
arms.
Give got an idee, granny" TIE
~auctionecr stepped to tie door after ut
tering these colsolatory words ard
mounted the table, which had already
been sold, with the baby clinging fast
to his neck.
Nov here's a fine piece O. ware, ~
he called out loudly. This baby's
a-gunIo ave its old granny from the
poor's horse, that's what it's a-gunno
do. Who'll put u big bid on a rosy
checked, hearty baby: Say, what'I Yea
bid:' The people did not comprehend.
There was silence IN, the crowd.
"1'm not in fer a~cceptin q little
bid" roared the a~uctioneer. II don't
want no offerir Of dollars or cents, l
want hundreds @ dollars. Some people
would hand ont a pow CT O. money fer q
baby like this'n. Amt there nobody
i'll Two Hills what's hunSerin fer I.
baby":'
Five hundred dollars!" called a
voice in the crowd.
The villagers turned with one accord
and stared at the blacksmith. What
did Sam Winters want with a baby:
He hadn't any wife to look after it.
The grocer's wife pulled her husband
by the arm and whispered, What q
we give fer a baby like that, John:"
MAKE it S700!' said the grocer.
"Seven hundred dollarsp' shouted the
a%uctioneer. "Seven hundred dollars fer
to pervide fer old NANNY all her life.
No wonder she's a-1aughin at YOU.
The Lemons, as a rule. is long lived.
Make it a thousand. Come, who'll
make it a thousand?"
lone thousand dollars.'' said the
blacksmith.
some thousand dollars! Coin, goin,
goin for 81. 600. She's worth more'n
81, 600. She'll give a body more'n ST.
600 with 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 pickering up her
face; the tears were filling her great
dark eyes. She put up her little fat
fists and mid her eyes as the auctioneer
again turned her to the crowd.
At this moment a carriage that was
about to pass anne to a stundstill, g
liveried Dotman sprang to the door, and
the great people of Two Hills came pill
ing out.
eyes, it is true" cried the young
lady, with a pretty, excited face. They
are actually selling a baby! Tom, look
at the baby
"Goin, goin, goin, for 81. 600, the
prettiest baby in Two Hills. the money
to keep its old grandmother from the
poorhouse!'
eleven hundred, p" cried the young
lacy, waving her black gloved hand
frantically.
The blacksmith Did as high as 81, 500,
the rich lady made it 81, 600, and the
man turned and walked away.
"Gone to Mrs. Eustice at 81, 60e,"
said the a%uctioneer, making a fine bow,
but looking as if he didn't know what
to do with the baby.
But the great lady ran up to the auc-