If by any chance, you stumble on an old or antique astronomical telescope standing on one of the stalls at a flea market, would you buy it.

In my case, I might. But I might also not, which is what I did when I chanced upon a black refracting telescope in the midst of old wares last Friday on a local flea market.

The telescope was easily noticeable – I quickly saw it even when I was still 30 meters away. It was a sunny, shining day, and so the glistening black tube all the more made the scope appealing to me.

And I really would have bought the telescope right there and then, but good judgment tells me not to buy it, because when I ask the vendor about the condition of the refracting telescope, me seem to have thought long and hard. Finally he tells me it is still okay to use. I thought his hesitation somewhat gives me out – that he is not telling the truth.

But then I still wanted to buy it, even if it was a broken one as I thought it serves as a great display. Finally, I decided the refracting telescope is not for me as the vendor priced it at 300 dollars. Too much money. I could have bought a nice, new one for the same amount.

So, case closed. I bid goodbye to the glistening black-tube telescope from the flea market.