An Express sale.
--A
Charlottesville, Va., correspondent of the Lynchburg
Republican gives that paper an account of a recent sale of goods uncalled for at the
Express office there:
As soon as the railroad trains had left and gave room at the depot, we the people assembled in mass to get the bargains.
The auctioneer announced, in a bland and polite manner, the terms to be cast, and no prying into the scatted packages.
No. 18 was up. It might be a pair of bouts — bid quick, gentlemen--$5, $10, and so up to $38, when it was knocked off, and being opened a lady's dress appeared, which the purchaser put up and sold for $50. That was a bargain, and others with plenty, of rocks — no paper — in their pockets, were in for it. Another splendid package was knocked off for $50, and the owner found himself in possession of some 100 or more almanac for 1860, another package, $30, and when exhibited a roll of dried grape vines carefully put up in more; another package, $10, had tickets of admission to a balloon ascension; another, for $30, contained a dozen bottles
Allegheny springs water, another, $5,
coupon bonds of the corporation in blank, a barrel, marked C. O. D., $58, from
Newbury, N. Y., brought it was filled with pine attaints, four inches in length, used to label frees, shrubs, &c. A large box brought $155. What a laugh followed, when it was opened and found to contain rags for the hospital, but on stirring them up sixty new cotton shirts were found.
It was the buyer's turn to laugh then, but his other speculations of packages will leave him minus a few Confederates.
The only persons who will realize a profit will be the Express Company, who had these unclaimed packages up to pay freight.
