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enteen dollars. let the auctioneer cry
the last bid for few minutes, until | saw
he was likely to knock it down.


"Twenty dollars" said |, and that's as
much as I'll go for it,


''The other bidder was deceived by
this as to the real value of the sofa, for it
did look dreadfully disfigured by the dust
and dirt, and consequently the sofa was
knocked off to me.


" That was admirably done, indeed y
said Mrs. Courtland, with bland smile
of satisfaction at having obtained the cle-
CANT piece of furniture at so cheap a rate.
"And it's SO near match, too, for the
sofa in our front parour.'


This scene occurred at the residence of
merchant in this city, who was begin
ming to count his fifty thousands. Let us
look at the other side of the picture.


On the day previous to this sale, IA wild
ow lady, with one daughter, beautiful
and interesting girl about seventeen, were
seated on a sofa in neatI Furnished par
lour in Hudson street. The mother held
in her hand a small piece of paper, on
which her eyes were intently fixed; but
it could readily be perceived that she saw
not the characters that were written upon
it.


What is to be done, ma - at length
asked the daughter.


" Indeed, my child. cannot tell. The
bill is fifty dollars, and has been due, you
know, for several days. havn't got five
dollars, and your bill for teaching the
Miss Leonards cannot be presented for
two weeks, and then it will not amount
to this sum-"


"Can't we sell something more, ma :"
suggested the daughter.


" We have sold all our plate and iew-
elry, and am sure don't know what we
can dispose Of unless it be something
that we really WANT


What do you say to selling the sofa,
ma ,"


" Well, | don't know, Florence. 1t
don't seem right to part with it. But,
perhaps we can do without it,"


IL VIII readily bring fifty dollars,
suppose


Certainly. 1t is Of the best wood and
workmanship, and cost one hundred and
forty dollars. Your father bought it a
short time before he died, and that is less
than two years past, you know"


81 should think it would bring nearly
a hundred dollars" said Florence, who
knew nothing of auction sacrifices land
that would give us enough, besides paw
ing the quarters rent, to keep us com
iorlably until some of my bills come due"


That afternoon the sofa was sent, and
on the next afternoon Florence went to
the auctloncer's to receive the money for
it.


"llave you sold that sofa yet, sir ;"
asked the timd girl, in low, hestatinp
voice.


" What sofa, miss - asked the clerk
looking steadily in her face, with bold
stare.


The sofa sent by Mrs. -, sir ~'


When was 1t to have been sold :"


"lestcrday, SIR


"Oh, we haven't got the bill made out
yet. You can call day after Tomorrow.
and we'll settle it for you"


Can't you settle it to-day, sir We