CHARITY IN AN AUCTION ROOM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 169, 7 November 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHARITY IN AN AUCTION ROOM.

Among other articles contributed for sale at an auction for the benefit of a widow was a bag of flour. The auctioneer offered it ; he enlarged upon its value; he called for a charitable bid. Now there were some three hundred people present, and among them was a party of six Yankee gentlemen. One of these bid for the bag of flour, and eventually it was knocked down to him at six dollars. The autioneer was proceeding to sell the next article, when the buyer of the bag of flour stopped him, saying, " Stranger, I don't want that bag of ourfl; here is the money for it ; sell it again for the benefit of the widow." A round of applause greeted this, and the bidding for the bag ran high. It was knocked down to another of the Yankee gentlemen at thirteen dollars, when he paid the money a»3 said, " Stranger sell it again." The excitement was intense as charity took this peculiar form, and the competition for the bag was very keen. It reached an enormous price by the time the six Yankees had each bought it, and the general public were allowed to bid. One after another they each bought and sold it, and went in at it amidst the most tremendous excitement to see whose eventually it should be. Night came, and the last buyer, looking at the auctioneer, said '* I don't want that bag of flour ; take it down to New York to-morrow, and sell it there for the bemefifc of tlie widow." And it was takfe» AftWn it> !NfeW Yt>r\t t where lh was three days, then taken to another town, and at last lodged in a hospital, after having been sold for upwards of £1000 in English money.