The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-09-01

the fat man in the corner. A knife
forces the lock in twinkling. Treas
ures? That depends on individual esti-
nation. Three old bricks and a wad
OF newspapers are revealed, and the
crowd guys the buyer, who enjoys it as
much as they. A boxl A Jew wrig-
giles to the front, eyes it keenly, bids
up to his limit" thirty shents "-and
gets it. He is disposed to shoulder it
and makes off, but the bystanders won't
hear to that. Up comes Ratchet.
Smash and lot of samples of shoes
appear. Isaac grins happily and is
cheered for his luck. Several small
parcels bring quite high prices, as more
likely 10 contain valuables. One box
is loaded with last years almanacs, ad-
vertising patent medicine, which the
laughing buyer promptly distributes by
pelting the heads of the men on the
floor below him with this literature of
bygone day, till some one pulls him
and his box off the bench together to
make room for another.
Now, gentlemenl cried the auc-
tioneer, "here is the chance of life
time! This great fat box evidently
contains a picture; perhaps an old
master, perhaps family portrait OF
your ancestors who came over in the
ark. You can hang it up in your hall
and tell your friends to note the re-
semblance to the owner. Five l am
offered, ten am offered, shall l have
ffteen?" and away up went the bids,
for this undoubtedly was a prize of
value; and when at twenty-five dollars
it was taken by man with white
waistcoat and big seal to his watch
chain, his friends congratulated him
while the cover was being pried open
with special care. A pause, craning
of necks, then yell of delighted
laughter rang out that echoed clearly
from the house across the street, while
the new owner gazed in blank stupe-
faction at his acquisition. Peal on peal
of merriment rang out and men lay
down and rolled and shook at the dis
closure. For there, neatly packed, was
a stuffed, double-headed calf, consigned
vainly to some unappreciative freak
museum by a disappointed granger.
What did l tell you, gentlemen,
about its being family portrait?" cried
the salesman, grinning, and again the
crowd shouted and guyed the buyer.
You can trust me every time, gentle
men; trust me all in all or not at all, as
the poet says. Now, here's another
prize. How much for this, no doubt
jewel case?" and the fun went on.
Presently, a small, box.like parcel
was put up.
"Here, gentlemen, is another jewel
box. 1t is light "-tossing it" so it
can't be wedding cake like the last
lot, in which was unfortunately mis-
taken, Year old cake is a little dry,
brother, amt itP Better buy fresh lot
tomorrow and remember me when the
cards are out" and the red.faced team
ster, who had made that unlucky pur-
chase, turned all sorts of colors to the
huge delight of his unmerciful fellows.
"How much?"
1t did look like something of value,
that oblong little box, and bids came
fast and earnest. Men get reckless at
times under such enthusiasm, and it
was long price indeed that carried off
the treasure. Eager eyes awaited the
unfolding. Paper after paper fell,
string after string went writhing down
before the box itself was shown. Then
slowly, reverently, the rough man lifted
from its bed of protecting cotton wool
the treasure which had been packed so
carefully with tender, loving hands a
year ago and sent on its unended mis-
sion. Torn, it was with briers. Torn and
scratched, rubbed through to the white
only wornout, tiny baby shoel
Where was the guying, the laughter?
n OF sound escaped from the crowd.
For long, long seconds silence fell like
q mist upon them, and like mist
things seemed to each man there for
| those long seconds dim and indistinct.
What little feet had stumbled In that
bit of leather and it's mate year ago,
and where were they now? SLill sturd-
Ter and more wearing, or on heavenly
pavement? Who could say? AS the
buyer slowly turned the slipper over q
bit of paper with faded writing on it,
blotted and stained, futtered out and
silted downward. Why was it stained?
Were they tears that made those blurs
and whyP
Hesitatingly the man picked up the
paper and began to read to the silen
men:
DEAR JOE: o Joe, come back to me,
had only you and Sammy TO love. l neve
knew how much / loved you till you'd gone
and now the doctor says-O Joe, he says
shall not have Sammy much longer. Com
back before
There was a struggle, showing,
hoarse voice that cried harshly, lie
me through" and choked and ceased
then man burst through them ant
leaped upon the counter.
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