But Josiah Sloane had been commissioned by his wife to bring
those flower-pots home to her; so Pa lost them.
"There, that's all," said the auctioneer, wiping his face,
for the day was very warm for October.
"There's nothing more unless we sell the baby."
A laugh went through the crowd. The sale had been a dull affair,
and they were ready for some fun. Someone called out,
"Put him up, Jacob." The joke found favour and the call
was repeated hilariously.
Jacob Blair took little Teddy Garland out of Martha's arms and
stood him up on the table by the door, steadying the small chap
with one big brown hand. The baby had a mop of yellow curls,
and a pink and white face, and big blue eyes. He laughed
out at the men before him and waved his hands in delight.
Pa Sloane thought he had never seen so pretty a baby.
"Here's a baby for sale," shouted the auctioneer.
"A genuine article, pretty near as good as brand-new. A real
live baby, warranted to walk and talk a little. Who bids?
A dollar? Did I hear anyone mean enough to bid a dollar?
No, sir, babies don't come as cheap as that, especially
the curly-headed brand."
The crowd laughed again. Pa Sloane, by way of keeping on
the joke, cried, "Four dollars!"
Everybody looked at him.
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