THE SUCCESS OF OUR RUMMAGE SALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE SUCCESS OF OUR RUMMAGE SALE.

BY j'.DWEi I'di^i-S.

| (Cop?ricM.> I Mother looted up inn the bundle of old hat 3 which had just arrived at the vicarage. They represented all that my wealthy Aunt Alice and my cousins could do to help us in our rummage, sale. I believe a parcel of love and good wishes was supposed to have been enclosed as well, but it had droped out through the torn brown paper. " Hats go for about seven a penny, don't they, my dear?" "Yes, mater," 1 said. " Things are getting serious. We want twelve pounds at least to pay for the vestment cupboard and the press for the stoles." '* And I do not believe we have two pounds' worth of things altogether, ' said mother. A hopeless expression crossed her face, and a tiny frown furrowed her white forehead. 1 always get excited when mother is worried j nothing ever annoyes me quite so much as that. "How hateful all one's rich relations always are," I burst out. " Mean brutes! I believe they sell all their things to old do' women, or advertise them in the Exchange Mart. _ And they seem to think that a poor parish can run itself ; but they would be the first to notice our lukewarmnesa as loyal churchwomen if we let the surplices get crumpled."

" It is only that they do not think," said mother. "We must do the best wo can. At any rate the poor people are pleased, though they would rather die than say so. They' get clothes that started "life 'by being strong and well made, instead of buying _ shoddy. 1 wonder if anyone will look Li and help us nt the sale."

"No one," I said, with conviction, " between hockey and—"

" Hero worship," added mother. laughing. "My dear child, if we could only get Basil Grey to promise to come for a quarter of an hour, w > * "0". scarcely have B*B.'.*-<l'.rg m."

Thi- ■ '.mi-, <■ o- iisotlcir'a did not exactly , : -»se m*. Basil 3rey was the- son of the pater's predecessor; ho is a more. or less busy barrister, and in the spring ha left for. South Africa with the CI. V.'s.

" Mrs. Dentil is in the drawing room, ma'am,'' announced Jane, and wo joyfully left the barbago we were sorting and went to be cheered by the gayest, maddest mortal \n our countryside.

Mrs. Den?;;', had a husband out in India, and appeared to get on very well without j him. How hi) got on without her was not our pre i&oo to inquire-. Wo would not willingly have spared that brilliant face with its wealth of fair hair, its audacious blue ayes, and its wickedly curved red lips, from our midst. It was vain for the most dour of spinsters to try to look askance at Mrs. Derail, her absolute frankness) disarmed their*. To report anv of her extravagant speeches or wild acta of folly was but waste of words, lor Mrs. Denzil invariably reported them herself, and' added thereto. Half of the crimes to which she confessed with infinite gusto, she had never committed; but she cot plenary absolution from one and all. Who but Mrs. Denz£ would have dared to light up on? prey country by the flash of her Royal Stewart pb.d coat, as with ;i meat radiancy goo itc in pored smile, she drove a rakish «k*w at its atmost speed through our narrowest lane?! " You look a bit worried," she said. "What is it? Those fossils on tho Ecclesiastical Commission, or another funeral kept waiting because his roveron&a had punctured a tyro five miles from homo?"

'" Oh, nothing bo oorioua as that. It is only our rummage sale. Tho contributions -which wo havo had have not been worth their carriage, and wo do not »co how to rains t-ie money wo shall want." " Have you asked tho Whites f''_ " Yeatwo pairs of stockings with _ tho heels worn off. and" a silk petticoat which rends if you look at it too long." " Shall I call on thern and tell them that they are really cruelly in want of new winter coats, and suggest their sending their old ones to you t ' " Noplease not," said mother in a ' panic We had had a little experience ; of Mrs. Denzil's calls on parish mattes. i "Are men's things any xrnal Why ] not ask young Grey V* " I hardly like to," jsairt mother. *' AM right, 1 will. Ho must have heaps of things he dooa not. want, and I'll mane him shell out." Off went Mrs. Donzlil, promising to write to Basil Grey, and to send tut tho results of her appeal. The raj' of cheerfulness alio had lit in mother and myself widened into positive illumination when, v. few days later, she brought in her dogcurt a big bundlri which aha insisted on , having immediately unpacked and ">- spected in our morning room. Sho acted a« show-woman.

"There I I toid you I -would get ihing out of him. Boot's—lots of them. brown a.nd black two flannel suits—not » bit worn ; socks, collate, ties, and tootled e* of a.ll Borta.' "Splendid!" wo said. Did ho Bend them all the way to your house?" " No. I told him I would call for' the bundle tills afternoon, it was to bo -endy in his own especial sanctum. Ho was out, but old Jenkins allowed mo in. < I found a note from him asking mo if this sort of tiling would be of any use, ami saying if I wanted anything more, old Jenkins could get it for mo.** Pursued by cur grateful thanks, Mrs. Denzil drove off in her usual whirlwind. She promised to come without fail to our salts next day, and especially begged to bo allowed to act an auctioneer. Mother and I returned to the examina- j tion of the bundle. " Actually, two of his pipes 1" eaid. mother. " How very good of him !" I said nothing, fo» just at that moment I caught sight of something which gave mo a sharp pang of pain. Many year.i ago, when Basil Grey first went to Cambridge, I had worker! for him the arms of 'his college on a tobacco pouch. There bad been something mere than mere kindliness in our farewell on that occa- | won. Here, at my feet, by the. wily i little gift with my faded work on it. Ho j surely need not have sent that to a rub- j biah sale. I "Ties?" went on mother, " what a col- j lection 1 And no kss than thr<"<> pairs of j puttees and, tee, a very decent urn- j brella. _ I Our sale came off next day. Mrs, Den- j cil had stipulated that her loot from Daais | Grey should be kept separate from _ the I rest" of the things, end entrusted entirely : to her. Privately, I intended baying I buck again my own despised gift, if it. j were only for tho pleasure of seeing it, I burnt. At eight o'clock, ft large gather- j ing of village folk invadsd t'?,*> school- j room and began, with ciaay disparaging j remarks, to turn over and to _ cheapen j the piles of miscellaneous clothing and j effects. Mrs. Denzil's stall was not open j to their inspection. I "I'll take that shirt, mum, if it ain't i above a shilling. Good money for it, too, ; it's terrible worn round the edge, and I clrigzledy-draggledy too." i "Could I have "them three blouses fori mnepenee, Miss! They're trot] old. i fashioned. T mind yon wearing one of | 'em last summer, and your things always | St our Sarah." I

And io on, and so on, ir? their a ess I ! manner. T bad isaperintW!<J<"d six Rath ; sales n.t least, before, and knew how to • coax the shy buyer, and to repress the i bard bargain-driver.. In the rn:'d=t of a : little argument -with a ftoat country- < ■woman as to the exact value of a. j.'.r/-) ; red fiannel dressing gown, mother slid to ; me : i "Clara, both the Whiten fcav/i forn.j ; ! that is rather nice of them, i«n*t it? j Thev hjjvo brought Mrs. Hill's nief-e with i them. ' ] I looked an and trailed at (be >■■•■-■•• | jrirla. Just. then, to n:y su.-pr;s.-i, the | daat'htcr of oar hank manager af.p<>r».>-'-d, ; followed cloH-ly by a fairly r«pre?e:>tat.!v«> j gathering of the yotinj ladies of the i neighbourhood. j ''What does it mean whispered - ! mother. " There must be scree ho/ribl* mJs- j take " I said. '"The.' met think tber«-J i£ an fTifertainmenl ci v<ni4 tort to I'--- i low/! ' [

There tliev stood and waited in pattene* until we had sold everything not included in Mrs. Donzil's reserve. A gay voice chattering in the lobby, and ft stir of expectation amongst i}'*: expectant damsel ?rochined t!'.\- ...d/s awr'al.

' Hern i a.n," she said, "a- plenty of time I hope. Hurry up., girls, the auction is going to begin. " C;,n I have a chair put on the talk-, Mrs. Warren i Hiai>V>. Now I can see the crc».i, rov itJtfc \M the hammer, and don't you wrgot it.-. Shove all the things up* on the tab-la beside me."

Mother and I collapsed hopelessly as Mrs. Ueuzil, flinging herself with roptura into the part, began her auction. The mixed crowd of villagers and ladies were as wax in her hands, tho audacity of her remarks and the brilliancy of her ami! would have upset the gravity of a meeting of the school board. '.I lie more serious contributions from Basil Grey fell to the bids of the villager*. Apparently boots and flannel suit a wot* not exactly the bait which had attracted the youth and beauty of the neighbourhood to cur schoolroom, bat when Mrs. Denzil turned her attention to what she was pleased to call "tootleries," the- caso was very different.

"Look at these ties," she said, in a tone of most anion; admiration. "Did you ever see any like these before? College colours, football colours, rainbow colours. Girls, you will never forgive yourselves if you- let such a chance as this slip. Six ties, ail worn, well worn, no nasty glaring newness about these. Did I hear you say one shilling, Misa Smith? Oh, I hope not, I could not listen to such an offer from you. Half a crown, Linda? That is better, but not good enough!" In the end she extracted an olTer of seven and six from the hank, manager's eldest daughter. Never ones did she mention the name of the donor of the effects, and the ladies gazed with undisguised amazement at each other's frantic bids.

"This pair of putties," pursued Mrs. Denzil. "was worn at the battle of Colenso."

This was entirely untrue, but spirited bidding ensued, and Mis? Hill b«y?:.tfT>* their proud possess'" tit the ;-•'•'/•'; >■.' ten shillings. ,-l lut. this j. ; ," said the unblushing n.i- .-'rmeor, "wo worn Jib Bpibn l\op. A liump set in in putties, and not evsn Mis. Pencil's mendacious statement thst the third pair had personally assisted nt> the relief of Ladysmith could produce an offering of more than three shillings.

At last, to my mingled relief and rag*, the little tobacco pouch was held ti.lcdt ia Mrs. Pencil's grasp. A tobacco icnoh. Look I What memories may not surround this."

".A shilling," squealed Linda White. "Two," I growled. Mrs. Pe.nv.tl nearly dropped tha pouch in her amazement at my intervention. ''What you, Clare. she said, with unfeigned astonishment.

"Three shillings," from tho eldest) Smyth.

''Four!" from me. "Fivfl!"

"Sevjn and sixpence," I said, my cheek* burning. Through the hush I could catch mother's agonised voice.

"Cure, my clear child !'" How long that horrible auction lasted: I pale to think. I only know t-hftt &ti last, at tho cost of fifteen shillings which 1 could ill spare, that horrid little pouch became once more my property. The rest of the scene is a dream to me. I was dimlv aware of a struggle going on over a silver-mounted briar wood pips., ant* that a. fanner's wife persisted m % 'noaO grim manner in bidding for the, umbrella. T'Vr manner, when she had it pw»'.* id ii-Jr fit last, Wiu» nlii-l-a* insulting.

When all the lots wore disposed of, tho girls quitelv withdrew, each cherishing a more or less extraordinary purchase, for which a;,o had paid highly, and each eyeing her .K'ißhbovir with stern distrust. Mother and I were left with Mrs. Derail in the schoolroom. "How diil yon manage It?" asked mother. "Did you infect all tho girls in tho neighbourhood with the mania for loft-oil clothing of every description?" Mrs. Derail laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"My dear Mr». Warren, it, was the simplest thing in the world. I told each of them—in tho strictest confidence somo trifles belonging to Basil . Grey wore going to bo sold, and begged them on no Recount to mention it to anyone else. That was why they were so mad with each other. Thoy thought they would pick tip eonia littio souvenir cheaply, but™" .and Mrs, Dt-nzil weighed a purse carefully in her hands—"l don't think they did that exactly." 1 I turned toward the b\g firo place. I thought I would got rid of that horrid littlo pouch at once. "What is that smell of burning?" r-atrl mother. "Why, Clare, tiro yon destroying the thiug von were crmy enough to give fifteen shillings for?" Before 1 could imager, tho doer flaw open find Basil Grey burst in. "Oh, I say, Mrs. Demi] ! T hex your pardon, Mrs*. Warren, 1 caino • down to fife if by any chance one or two little things of tniiio hud been put by ritislflfce into that bundle." • "Oh. T hope- I did nothing wrong, * wild Mrs. Dcnzil. "I did just arid one or two nondescript things which old .'Jenkins told me he was sure von would not want." Old Jenkins adores Mrs, Denzil. Find she asked him for bin mauler's new drew suit ho would have given St to her without a murmur. •Would you tell me if two of my pipes were among the triilcs Jenkins knew T. should not want?" "Yes," Raid Mrs. Donsil, "but they both qui old ones, lam Blue." "Then, if von don't mind, I will bay. them back mvself j they were rather favourites of mine. ' Mrs. Denzfl looked very thoughtful. "I fancy Miss Mortiner bought on*, and Miss Rawli.ign the other, but not doubt they would be delighted for you to have them back." "Oh, never mind, it does not matter In w>o least There wo* en umbrella I missed, too." - , , "Yes," said Mrs, Denzil. with an air of conscious virtue, but only your rcrona best. .Tonkins quite agreed with me that you could only possibly use on"." "But it wasn't mine, it was lrnl to mo tho Slight, before when i called '<« old Fleming up «' the farm and a storm rama on unexpectedly. Is Unit sold '." ■■V, I-," Mid Mrs. Lewdf. "Whom to. i-'.'t:-<-•'.'" f '\Vhv oddlv enough to Mr*. Fleming;." Basil'".* Was a. study. "And I. snail have to explain '" he said, "they will have u carious idea of my charity. libera was 0110 thing more—" ho grew very red and looked across at me, to wham I stood very rigidly by tho fir«», watching \ho slew 'lame? straggling with the remnants '-■•' their proy. "'A littlo tobacco poach," lie said. "Very shabby," raid the l&dy, firmly. "Quite a di.->,"ra<:e to vou. That is why I took it." ' * ■ .

"Bat I really do wsnt that back again," he ur.:ed, "please tell use who has it." "You had better ask C'.we," ebo raid, "Mrs Warren and I have to male up our accounts."

i f-'he dt'«* mother to the far side of the ! ball, end Ba«U strode over to m**. I never ; saw Bccb a Bio* Ore in all my life. [ "'Do you know where it is, Clare?'* he j b*i"in, and lh*n hi* eye* fe?l on f.bw ! grate. One fnd of a bit of grey fabric, i tlll ornamented with a shield charge*! ! with cock'n b'Wids, lav ."irnorrjr the coal. I "Yon b-"UT;l it," be suit], "wbvi" I I could 'fir.d rothins? to ear, * • I "Clare, yon rvM not hum thought I • mwint to i:iva lb at fo &nv cbariv.y under l the k'.'h/' ' ! frill no ar?v<ver. \ learnt then ?b*'. i d:;:r.'.•'.•>; i* ;.:< ; h, P'-rh.-.o' my tfler.eo I v.-a.s rifore than my r'<«■«}* r«!-l ! have b*en, for be suddenly t0..;; rs;y band ! in ;.;'. > it:" be r> 4.-■•.:-. i l\fr- D'.' r-troljitsjf ort a ;>v Cavalier ! tr;::". JO:ned r". I ' ■■- in her eyw tha** j S :> V'e'.v ; : : ! th<-re w.» ♦'» ' " kr;-,vrr:. "W/- are L"vir..» ri-;o,; to !he vicarage. < (•<.•*:■ r*!o-' "'Mi*! c;;r-v." j P:,:,r ram- W-.'inir' ir:'o <!h* drtw»n C - I ny.ni wh".-« FJasi: nfl'l 5 had ja". » '"^ ' irf>rsii 'if *if/' ,-• iti< r> —he raKl-ed hit j ham!* wit-, del M. "What. tw<>M%*-m!>ri»Tj p*->;r:ri?, ei?ht I shilling* ? Mv d*<i.r Clare, what art uni preorderited tse-'v •>. • " And, r'-..i!;v. B:u-:l fi;«T and I tolly ! &: - : if:] with him. I »Jil* SND,