eer, specially at a big sale like this. He says it's going to be
a wonderful sale, that he ain't had one like it for years. There's
things here belonged to the family for three generations, been handed
down and handed down and now to-day it'll get scattered all over
Lancaster County, mebbe further. This saving up things and not using 'em
is all nonsense. I tell Lizzie we'll use what we got and get new when
it's worn out and not let a lot back for the young ones to fight over or
other people to buy."

Here the auctioneer climbed upon a big box, clapped his hands and called
loudly, "Attention, attention! This sale is about to begin. We have here
a collection of fine things, all in good condition. The terms of the
sale are cash. Now, folks, bid up fast and talk loud when you bid so I
can hear you. We have here some of the finest antique dishes in the
country, also some furniture that can't be duplicated in any store
to-day. We'll begin on this cherry table."

He lifted a spindle-legged table in the air and went on talking.

"Now that's a fine table to begin with! All solid cherry, no screws
loose--and that's more than you can say about some people--now what's
bid for this table? Fine and good as the day it came out of a good
workman's shop; no scratches on it--the Brubaker people knew how to take
care of furniture. Who bids? How much for it do you bid? Fifty
cents--fifty, all right--make it sixty--sixty cents I'm bid. Sixty,
sixty, sixty--seventy--go ahead, eighty--go on--ninety, one dollar, one
dollar ten, twenty, thirty--keep on--one dollar thirty, make it forty,
forty, forty, forty, I have a dollar forty for this table--all done?
Going--all done--all done?"

All was said in one breathless succession of words. He paused an instant
to gather fresh impetus, then resumed, "All done--any more? Gone at a
dollar forty to----"

"Lizzie Brubaker."

"Sold to Lizzie Brubaker."

"There," whispered the preacher to Phoebe, "that's one."

She smiled and nodded her head.

"Here now," called the auctioneer, "here's a fine set of chairs. Bid on
them; wink to me if you don't want to call out. My wife said she don't
care how many ladies wink to me this afternoon at this sale, but after
that she won't have it--now then; go ahead! Give me one of the chairs,
Sam, so the people can see it--ah, ain't that a beauty! Six in all, all
solid wood, too, none of your cane seats that you have to be afraid to
sit in. All solid wood, and every