Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-09-06
In the Nick of Time
tOriginal.l
"Who bids 2"

dress beautifully embroidered, but hav-
ing the appearance of age. A sale Of
household effects was in progress at
the house where they had been accu-
mulating and wearing out for thirty
years. The only residents were man
and his wife, who had been gradually
sinking from comfort to poverty until
their house was to be sold under fore
closure Of mortgage and the effects
were going to pay individual debts.
The couple stood together, the husband
, now and again vainly trying to infuse
into his wife courage to see her treas
ures scattered.
Il can't bear to see that CO." she said
to him. "I've kept it ever since Tommy
wore it, / embroidered every bit of it
! with my own hands l can't, l can't"
"But Tommy proved a disappoint-
ment to us, mother. 1 put him out
of my mind long ago. At least I've
tried to. / thought when / grew old
he'd take the burden was bearing for
him, but he ran away and left us to go
to rack and ruin. Stand up, mother"
II can't. l wish you hadn't been SO
,, harsh with him. He was young and
headstrong. He needed soothing. You
fretted him."
"Who bids?" the auctioneer kept say
ing "Is no one going to bid on this
child's dress? That embroidery was all
done by hand-none of your machine
90; chn ha zoe
care. Step up, ladies, and examine it."
Five dollars" cried mans voice
from the far end Of the room.
The auctioneer looked surprised.
give dollars I'm offered Make 1t a
half-S5. 1t can't be possible that If
man is willing to give such price the
ladies will not go higher Why, the
pattern has just come into fashion"
But there We're no more bids, and he
pronounced the article sold.
Then he took up the next, a baby's
bonnet A lady bid % cents, but the
purchaser Of the dress bid dollar, and
1t was knocked down to him. A young
woman hung on his arm who appeared
to be his wife. The women present
whispered to each other and looked at
! the couple who seemed so anxious for
! babies clothes. The young husband
| kept on bidding, and the child for whom
| they were intended must be boy and
growing old rapidly. First toys, then
sled, tricycle., hobbyhorse, no matter
| how dilapidated their condition, were
! bid in by the man who was ready to
+, absorb all Of them. Then when articles
Of furniture were put up the buyer con-
! tinued his purchases. Chairs, tables,
sofss, mirrors, all went into the pos
session of the stranger.
"Cheer up, mother" whispered the
old man. "The things are bringing
more than they are worth"
They're not bringing 1.-THE of what
they are worth to me-" she sighed.
This young couple who are buying
them all remind me Of the time when
you and 1 started out so happy. It's
oil over now. They'll have to come to
It some time poor things"
81 hope the boy they're buying the
toys for won't desert Them" sighed
the man.
There was not very much to sell, and
what there was the stranger purchas-
ed. Then the auctioneer announced
that he would sell the house. It was
some time before any bid could be got.
and then it came from the man who
had bought the effects. He bid $1,000.
Several persons wanted the house, and
It was run up to $4,000 before the bid
ding began to drop off. At last the only
two contestants remaining were real
estate operator and the man who had
purchased the toys The two ran the
price up to $4,000, when the unknown
astonished all present by bidding $780,
900. That ended the sale, and the
premises were knocked down.
why, mother" said the old man.
that gives us $4,000 above all our
debtsv
What name is the deed to be made
inf" asked the auctioneer
Thomas Coggeshall."
"No, no. said the auctioner impa-
tiently; mot the last owner, the pres
ent one'
Thomas Coggeshall"
The auctioneer looked up surprised.
MAKE the deed to Thomas Cogge-
shall" said the purchaser.
What does it meanT asked the old
woman Of her husband. He did not re-
ply. He was as much befogged as she.
: Come, hand in 10 per cent Of the
purchase money" shouted the auction
eer,s land give Inc your name, or IL
you're going to back out say SO right
OF, And I'll make the sale over"
The stranger took out a check book,
drew check for $1,000, signed 1t
Thomas Coggeshall, Jr, and handed it
to the auctioneer, who looked at it as
much puzzled as ever.
"Will you please explain this riddle?"
asked the auctloneer.
Eyes, but to my father and mother"
Approaching the old couple, he took
them both in his arms with: Don't
you know me, father? Don't you
know me, mother? I'm Tommy. I've
made money and got married and
come back to find you. This Is Evelyn,
my wife. She says I've treated you
abominably, and she's right. But I'll
make up for it. Father, you meant for
the best, but l couldn't profit by your
experience Mother i've been worse