To add insult to injury this was the second dasher churn Pa had bought at auction . That settled it . Ma decreed that henceforth she would chaperon Pa when he went to auctions . But this was the day of Pa 's good angel . When he drove up to the door where Ma was waiting , a breathless , hatless imp of ten flew into the yard , and hurled himself between Ma and the wagon-step . `` Oh , Mrs. Sloane , wo n't you come over to our house at once ? '' he gasped . `` The baby , he 's got colic , and ma 's just wild , and he 's all black in the face . '' Ma went , feeling that the stars in their courses fought against a woman who was trying to do her duty by her husband . But first she admonished Pa. . `` I shall have to let you go alone . But I charge you , Pa , not to bid on anything -- on ANYTHING , do you hear ? '' Pa heard and promised to heed , with every intention of keeping his promise . Then he drove away joyfully . On any other occasion Ma would have been a welcome companion . But she certainly spoiled the flavour of an auction . When Pa arrived at the Carmody store , he saw that the little yard of the Garland place below the hill was already full of people . The auction had evidently begun ; so , not to miss any more of it , Pa hurried down . The sorrel mare could wait for her shoes until afterwards . Ma had been within bounds when she called the Garland auction a `` one-horse affair . ''
It certainly was very paltry , especially when compared to the big Donaldson auction of a month ago , which XXXXX still lived over in happy dreams .
Pa bounds duty intention place promise shoes store woman yard