to begin at eight o'clock, and by seven
over a hundred persons had already arrived, and were "rummaging" about
the premises. An auction of this kind differs greatly from an art sale
at Chickering Hall. There is no catalogue, numbering the various lots
to be offered; nevertheless there is nothing so small, so worthless,
so old, so broken, or so rusty, that it will not be put up, and bid
for too. Many of the prospective buyers come many miles to attend, and
as the sale usually lasts all day, it is expected that the owner will
serve dinner promptly at noon, to all who may wish to partake of his
hospitality. As these dinners, save in rare cases, usually amount to
nothing better than a luncheon, many bring viands with them, thus
reinforcing themselves against contingencies of hunger.

By the time that the auction was to begin, the Grath farm looked like
a veritable picnic-ground; teams tied to every place that offered, one
old man having "hitched" his horse to a mowing-machine, which caused
some merriment when that article was sold, the auctioneer announcing
that he would "throw in the critter leaning against the machine";
whilst here and there some of the bolder visitors had gathered
together tables and chairs, and were keeping guard over them until the
eating hour.

One old woman approached Leon and sought information, thus:

"Be you the boy that Marg'ret Grath took offen the county farm?" To
which Leon vouchsafed no reply, but turned and walked away. This at
once aroused the anger of the irascible old party, who followed him
speaking loudly.

"Hoity! Toity! What airs for a beggar's brat! I'd have you to know,
young man, that when I ax a civil question, I cac'late to git a civil
answer!" Which calculation, however, miscarried.

Over near the barn he met another woman who asked:

"I say! You be the boy as lives here, be'ant you?"

"Yes, I live here," replied Leon.

"Well! I hearn as how Miss Grath hed some white ducks, so nigh as big
's geese, thet a body couldn't tell one from t'other. Now I've sarched
the hull place lookin' fer them ducks, but bless me ef I kin find a
feather on 'em. I seen a fine flock o' geese in the orchard, but I
want you to show me them ducks. I'm jest achin' to see em."

"The flock in the orchard are the ducks; we have no geese," explained
Leon.

"You don't mean it!" rejoined the woman, much astounded. "So them
geese is the ducks! Land alive! And I took 'em for geese. Well, I
never! To