Some of the assembled people looked guilty, and the auctioneer rode rough-shod over their feelings. "Anudder thing: Don't haggle on a cent! When I call out a decent bid on a thing, raise it a nickel, at least, if you wants it. This cent business--and at Hubbell's vendue, some of you'se even bid half a cent at a time--makes me tired! If a thing ain't wuth a cent more to yeh, then let it go to the other feller what wants it!"
The girls laughed at this frank statement of _sense_, and Lemuel turned to see who had appreciated his speech. When he saw the city people Abner had mentioned, he felt warmed all through, for he felt sure he would earn some commissions that day.
"Our first number is in th' kitchen. Ab, kin we get in thar, er had we better hold the stuff out here?" asked Lemuel.
"I can't hold up the kitchen stove, kin I?" asked Abner, in an injured tone.
The people laughed heartily, Mrs. Fabian's party joining more appreciatively than anyone.
"All right," answered the auctioneer, in a matter-of-fact voice. "We'll try to crowd in. But don't anyone what don't want to bid on kitchen stuff, come and use the room from others!"
It seemed that his very warning acted contrariwise for, to the girls, it looked as if everyone on the premises tried to crowd into that small room. Being first on the ground, they fared best for place. Mrs. Fabian mounted the steps leading to the attic and advised the girls to get up on the table, chairs, or other solid objects, to be able to look over the heads of the crowd.
"Now, Ab, what you got first?" asked the auctioneer.
Abner had his little book of items, and finding the table the first number inventoried, he called out: "Deal table and contents!"
Now Polly stood on the table, and all the covers had been thrown upon it, also, so when Abner shouted out "table and contents" Lemuel laughed loudly.
"Say, one of them contents is a mighty pooty gal, I kin tell yuh! I'll begin bidding myself, on such a bargain!"
The country-folks laughed wildly at such a fine joke, and Polly, eager to own the other valuable contents, smiled with them and nodded her head at the salesman. He was not aware that she meant she would bid, for his customers always shouted forth their bids. Then a man asked: "What sort of contents is thar?"