Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-07-03
THE RUMMAGE SALE
Observation-Disclosures

WNW with my old ulster, Alvira 2"
said Silas HOlbrook, poking his
head into the pantry where Alvira stood
molding her bread. 1--WE looked high
an low for it, an faint nowhere, as
can see."
well. don't look no more then" said
his wife, without turning round.
But what have We done with it, any
way? persisted Silas.
Alvira whirled round, pan of bread
in each hand, and Silas lodged quickly
one side to let her pass through the
narrow door. Alvira had grown stout
in the last few years, though SilaS was
still as little and wien as dried pep
per. The oven door slammed before
Alvira answered.
1--WE given it to Lucinda Peters for
the rummage sale" said she, as she
turned and faced him.
Slas' under jaw dropped and his
faded blue eyes looked bewildered. as
he sank down upon the empty wood
box.
"Given it to Lucinda Peters for the
rummage sale! And what's a rummage
sale, Alvira?" said he, in Il hopeless
tone.
Lucinda says it's the latest fad the
city folks has got up to make money
for church societies. relief corps and
SIGH like. And the Pineville folks amt
a-going to be behindhand, so they're a
going to have one, too. You see. every
one rummages through their attics for
all the old truck they've had hid up
for the last forty years, and brushes it
up and sends it to be sold. Then the
poor people come in and buy it for a
little or nothing, and the money goes
to the church. When Lucinda called to
see what I'd give 1 was too busy to go
rummaging in the attic, so rummaged
the woodshed and found your old ulster.
Now, Silas, you've had that old coat, l
don't know how many years, and you
never wear it only when you go tramp
ing in the woods, and I'm sick Of seeing
1t round, so I'm glad it's gone," an
swered Alvira, briskly.
"And I'm powerful sorry, Alvira,"
said Silas, dejectedly.
Land sakes! Silas, you look as
mournful as if I'd given away yer last
cent? said his wife, little scornfully.
"Seems almost as if We had, Alvira, "
answered Silas, hosting himself down
from the woodbox and shutting slowly
out Of the room to the shed.
With his hands thrust into his trou-
sers' pocket. Silas gazed dsconsolately
at the empty peg. where for so long a
time had hung that shabby old ulster
who'd ever dreamed that Alvira's
given that ere coat away" muttered he.
"She hain't teched it for years, as l
can remember, to sew a button on 1t nor
nothing, and l didn't suppose she ever
would. l never'd Il left them things in
the pockets II I'd thought Alvira'd go
nigh it, An now the whole things
gone" Silas sank down upon the chop
ping block and groaned aloud.
Lucinda Peters the beatenest WON
an I've ever heard on!' he muttered
wrathfully. "Shes allus a getting up
the other women. Ever sence she start
ed that air woman's club five years ago,
there amt no end of the queer doings
of the women of this town. Makes a
man feel as If he was living nigh an
earthquake that you don't know any
time when it'll bust. And now the
latest kickup's a rummage sale"
Silas groaned again as he opened the
kitchen door and called loudly:
"Alvira"
"Well, Silas, what is it?" answered
his wife.
where's Lucinda Peters having
that air rummage sale ye're telling
On?" asked Silas.
I'm the back room of Jake Wether-
ellis store down to Pineville. Jake said
the women could have the use Of it, If
they'd clean 1t up first"
Huh! Jake knew what he was about
that time, for the place hain't been
cleaned up since the year one" said
Silas, as he closed the kitchen door.
A little later the sound Of sleigh bells
caused Alvira to look out the window.
II swum; if there amt Silas driving
off to the village without saying word
TO me! And I'd been thinking I'd so
down myself. It's jest like the selfish
ness of man, anyhow. Lucinda says
they air all tyrants, even the best of
'em."
Pinevilie was all excitement over the
rummage sale in Jake Wetherelrs store.
Lucinda Peters had stirred up the farm
ers' wives to ransack their houses from
cellar to garnet. and the result was de-
cidedly unique.
There were disabled fiatirons, weak
backed chairs. and pitchers minus noses.
There was the old-fash!oned wooden