"Yes, but I didn't get it. I only wanted it because it was in the family so long. I'm a Brubaker. I said I wouldn't give more than fifty cents for it, for it would just stand up in the garret anyway, and be one more thing to move around at housecleaning time. Yet I'd liked to have it. I don't know who got it."
"I did, but I don't want it. I'd like to give it to you."
"Why"--the woman was amazed--"what did you bid on it for?"
"Just for the fun of bidding," said Phœbe, laughing. "Will you let me give it to you?"
"I'll give you half a dollar for it," offered the woman.
"No, I mean it. I want to give it to you. I'll consider it a favor if you'll take it from me."
"Well, if you want it that way. But don't you want the quilt and the feather pillows?"
"Why, thanks," said the woman as she went to the spot where the cradle stood. She soon walked away with the clumsy gift in her arm. "Now don't it beat all," she said as she set it down near her friends. "I just knew that I'd get a present to-day. This morning I put my stocking on wrong side out and I just left it for they say still that it means you'll get a present before the day is over, and here I get this cradle!"
With a bright smile illumining her face, Phœbe rejoined the preacher.
"I see you disposed of the cradle," he greeted her.
"Yes. But I felt like a hypocrite when she thanked me, for I was giving her what I didn't want."
Here the busy auctioneer called again, "Attention, everybody! This piece of furniture we are going to sell now dates back to ante-bellum days."
"Ach, it don't," Phœbe heard a voice exclaim. "That never belonged to any person called Bellem; that was old Amanda Brubaker's for years and she used to tell me that it belonged to her grandmother once. That man don't know what he's saying, but that's the way these auctioneers do; you can't believe half they say at a sale half the time."
Phœbe looked up at Phares; both smiled, but the loquacious auctioneer, not knowing the comments he was causing, went on serenely:
"Yes, sir, this is a real old piece of furniture, a real antique. Look at this, everybody--a chest of drawers, a highboy, some people call it, but it's pretty by any name. All of it is genuine mahogany trimmed with inlaid pieces of white wood. Start it up, somebody. What will you give for the finest thing we have here at this sale to-day? What's bid? Good! I'm bid five dollars to begin; shows you know a good thing when you see it. Five dollars--make it ten?"