Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-01-22
A Country Auction.

Gentlemen, how much am l
offered for this pillow? 1t is warranted
TO turn up anything from stumps to
a mortgage How much; how much
do you say? twenty-five cents?
, Well, [ guess yes! Almost as good
as new. Covered with rust because
it hasn't been used since last spring.
Look at that beam solid as a bank.
| am offered a quarter, who will bid
five dollars? Ought to have ten.
twenty-five cents am offered;who
will make it fifty? Fifty? Fifty?
fifty? fifty? Who will bid dollar
One dollar I am offered; whc will
make it two? One dollar, one dollar!
You want this pillow, John; it will
almost pull itself One dollar and
a half 7 am offered. Who will
make it two? One, seventy five?
Who said one seventy-five? Are you
all done? Fair warmed! Who will
give me two2 Or twenty-five l
am offered. One, three-falr
warning two, rec and sold
to Mr.. Jones for one seventy five. :"
Thus it goes through the entire
day. Several hundred people per-
haps are gathered at farm house
where the genial, tried and true
auctioneer, entertains and draws the
crowd his way He has been the
peoples servant in that capacity for
several decades and knows every
man present by his first name.
Everybody is kept in a good humor
and every eye is watched to see if it
waivers between a doubt or bid.
To such a gentle coax is administered
and never does coy maiden receive
a more earnest wooing than the man
who is almost persuaded to bid.
Auctioneer and bidders go from
one piece of farm machinery to
another until all are disposed Of.
Then the odd pieces of tools, such as
saws, hammers, sledges, mauls,
wedges, files; old boxes containing
nails, screws, clevises, wrenches,
curry combs, clippers, straps, bolts,
nuts, chisels, and the hundred and
one odd things that farmer finds so
useful when needed, brought forth
from the barn and sheds and
displayed to view. Where one piece
will not sell alone dozen, perhaps
are punched together and are
knocked down for ten, fifteen or
twenty cents or sometimes a dollar.
Grain in the bin, in the sack or
in the field all goes. Then to the
house. The mistress Of the place,
kindly assisted by her neighbor
woman pass out piece at time,
furniture, ornaments, dishes and
kitchen utensils. Here the women
take hand in the bidding and add
new treasure to their already large
store at home Everything goes,
including the old family clock that
has measured off SO many nights OF
peaceful rest and days Of weary toll.
Then to the stables and stockyard.
Old Patchen, that sturdy old horse
that never has shirked duty, that
tor years has plodded six days in the
field and pulled the family to church
on the seventh, must in exchange
for few cold dollars, 60 stranger
to strange barn where the druid
gerry of his declining years will not
be lessened of remembrance of faith
full service in his youth and prime.
Biddy, the good old COW, whose
pure, rich milk shows in the chubby
faces of the children, is chased
around the lot for general inspection
and soon passes through the gate
and gallops down the road terrified
by the crack of strange whip.
1t is a time of merriment and OF
pathos. Jokes pass between the
crowd and all are jolly when at the
noon hour every man present re-
ceives a sandwich and cup OF coffee.
But in the hearts of the hOmefOlks
there turks a heavy something that
becomes acute when the ne1ghbors
are all gone, leaving nothing but
silence in the empty yard, pens,
barns and walls. A great lump
comes up in the fathers throat when
he sees his wife's tears as the doors
of the old house are locked, and the
children look on in wOnderment.
And then when they come to go to
some distant state and pass out of
the gate and go down the road and
finally reach the top of the hill that
is to shut out the view of the old
home, they turn and take last,
long look; and there comes over
them heavy sadness that finds a
kin only in the heart Of one from
whose sight a loved friend or COM
panion has passed away forever.