THE NIGHT BEFORE THE AUCTION.
It was a sad household, that of Mark Nelson, on the day preceding the departure from the farm. There was to be an auction the next day, at which the farm-stock and farm-implements were to be sold. It was well understood that Squire Hudson was to be the buyer of the farm, and as he was not likely to have any competitor there was little hope that it would fetch more than the amount of the mortgage.
During the afternoon Mr. Nelson called on Squire Hudson to make the best terms he could at private sale.
"The farm is worth at least a thousand dollars more than the mortgage, Squire Hudson," said the farmer.
"It is worth what it will fetch, Mr. Nelson," said the squire.
"Do you mean that an article always commands its full value at auction, Squire Hudson?"
"Ahem! it brings its market value, Mr. Nelson."
"Which may be far below its intrinsic value. Suppose a diamond worth ten thousand dollars were put up at auction in our village, do you consider that it would bring a fair price?"
"Ahem! you are wandering from the subject. We are talking of farms, not diamonds."