The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-27
"BOUGHT WITH A PRICE"
The AUCTION of Children Last Night
Intcrfcred with.

a large and expectant audience gathered
In salvation Army hall last night to see
the advertised auction sale Of children. Al
ter the soldiers filed in from the open air
ard took their places on the platform, Sis
ter Ethel Edwards marched six children In
from the officers quarters and arranged
them on the front platform. Captain Ham
lton stood behind table with an auc-
tioneers mallet and after extolliag he
beauty. disposition and pedigree OF the
children. called FOR bids.
DO you sell them separate or altogeth-
or - called out some stranger from near
the center OF the hall.
The captain smiled, and said he preferred
to sell them all in IA bunch-a job lot as
it were--but invited any kind of bid.
"I'll give you $50 for that boy at the end
of the line" announced the stranger.
Again the captain smiled but he did not
call the hid.
Then small man, with a dark mustachc,
advanced and siGnalod the auctioneer He
wanted the whole bunch and he offered.
If they were given 10 him, that he would
thoroughly educate each Of them. Knowl-
edge, or education. was his bid. and he de-
tailed at some length the value Of his offer
Ing.
The auctioneer seemed to think this
good offer. and was on the point OF closing
the sale. when a tall, slim young man in
the rear of the hail arose aud offered
wealth" He told OF the many joys wealth
would bring to the children, and urged
| that his offer he accepted.
Again the auctioneer raised his mallet
! and called going going" but a lady near
| the front arose and offered the children all
| social advantages and fashionable dress.
! Then u man at the rear OF The hall aros,
| and offered for each Of the children amb'-
| ticn and power-tho power to sway and
| rule their fellow-men, which. the bidder
| declared, was the supreme object of human
| existence and TO attain which men and
women give wealth, and toll. and knowl-
! edge, ane sacrifice even their souls. This
! bidder wound up with the declaration that
no one could raise his bid. and he demand
| ed that the children be delivered to him.
Just al his moment. however. Mrs Cap
| tain Hamilton came rushing in from the
rear Of the hail and commanded that the
| 81 le he stopped
These children have each and every one
been bought with price" she said THE
price has been paid. and the purchaser
must not be dafraudel of His right They
are bought with the blood Of Jesus, and
neither wealth nor knowledge nor fashion,
nor ambition shall take them from Him
who gave His life for them.
| After a short talk to the audience, by
way of emphasizing this lesson. Mrs. Ham
| ilton lined up the little ones and babe them
sing chorus. Then, one by one. each nj
the bidders arose and withdrew their bids
admitting the superior claims Of Christ
and the superior price He had paid
| Then came the collection. and after that
| the mothers In the audience were called on
for testimonials and the meeting wound
up with the usual battle for souls"
Tonight the double meeting takes place
An oyster surper in ono room and pre-
sen.ation ot passes and swearing in OF re.
cruits In the other,
Tomorrow nicht will he the farewell
meeting Of Captain and Mrs. Hamilton. and
| the farewell services viii he nreccded by
| dissection analysts and burning Of an Of.
| firv OF satan on the Platform.
No charge for admission to any meeting
and everybody is urged TO attend