Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-08-17
THELUCK oFTHEoLDMARE

A country auction is one OF the di-
versions OF city folk in the summer.
The chance atold furniture and irons
and ancestral clocks is as aliurine
as a will-o'-the-wisp, and about as
unreal.
But who shall estimate what n
country auction is to country peo-
pleP The opportunity ofseeing one
another's belongings in the unspar-
ing light OF day !; the chance Of get
ting things cheap. for bargaining is
the beginning of an intellectual ex-
|oEcisos - -
A country auction never comes on
as scheduled. Time must be allow.
ed for the farmers chores, for dis
tances TO be traversed by horses
just from the plough. for the farmers
wife TO do her dishes and dress the
children too young to be left at home.
They, too, come in the clothes of
leisure and the bonnets OF ceremony.
The women move about the house
hold goods, talking in subdued tones
with formality as do early comers at
funeral. The men after their kind
congregate about the stables. 1t is
only when the auctioneer mounts
the corner of the porch that the hill
aritv begins. The women seat them
selves on the chairs awaiting their
turn and the men throw themselves
on the grass ready for the entertain
ment.
This auction was an humble affair.
There were no ancestral cupboards,
no high post bedsteads. The furni-
ture was the sort that suggested
that domestic life is the most hope
less Of all careers.
When the household goods had
been disposed OF. the assembly moved
down to the barnyard. where the
farming implements and live stock
were congregated. The summer
boarders mingled with the crowd.
With unerring instinct for the worth
while, they fished out from pile of
scrap iron and old junk q battered
piece of Sheffield plate.
will you have this put up,
please p
The auctioneer laid down a set of
harness and held up the disreputable
piece.
What am / bid for this hand
some cake dish? Now, don't all
speak at once.
A man laughed. Ten cents to
help along"
Fifteen cents" said the lady,
her convictions challenged.
Its yours, miss. This property
goes to the young lady in the red
waist" singing her carefully out
for the benefit OF the crowd.
And I've been married thirteen
years." she laughed to her compan-
ion. Then they were lost in the
crowd, while the sale went on.
At length a laugh arrested their
attention. A boy was leading up a
white mare. Lame before and be-
hind, she hobbled along. while her
head bobbed up and down. Time
and i'll treatment had done their
worst. While the crowd laughed
the old mare vaguely looked on, no
CLEAN of sense in her dulled eyes.
Here's your chance gentlemen,
for something cheap. What II you
bid2 Speak up, now. Who'll give
me a bid2 Plenty of work in her
left"
Two dollars" said a man tenta-
lively.
Two dollars l am offered. Two
dollars do / hear"
Two dollars and half if any
body will shoot her, broke in the
young lady in the red shirt waist.
The auctioneer was the first TO re-
cover.
"I'll kill her for you for $2 so,
miss"
His assurance helped the crowd to
recover.
Three dollars. bid another voice.
"Three-fifty," returned the lady.
"Three-seventy-five."
Four dollars|'
-Four and half. / have it, said
the auctioneer.
Five dollars" she lifted her head
with slight defiance.
Come" said her companion.
They're bidding.it up on you" She
shook of the light touch.
do / hear you'll Thank you,
$5.25. Don't 60, miss, give US an
other bid. Six dollars and she's
yours.
six dollars.
six dollars. Six dollars. Going,
going. gone. She's your property,
MISS"
The crowd broke into little groups
discussing in undersones the Incl
dent. Never in the history of the