The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-04-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
A CHANGE OF BASE,
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.

DAVID THOMPSON'S new house was
finished at last, the litter of carpenters,
masons and painters was cleared away,
and now he had brought with him his in
tended wife, that they might plan for ft-
ting it up.
David had been engaged three years,
but being 4 prudent young man, he said
he could never marry till he had fair
start in the world He thought he had it
now, since, in addition to youth, health, q
house and 20 acres of land, Air. Burch,
the great mill-owner, had lately made
him his foreman, a position he had long
coveted. The wedding day was therefore
fixed for September -, three months
hence.
For once in the worlds history, no one
found any fault with the match, but all
declared the happy pair were very well
suited for each other.
Salie Dearing, the bride elect, was
neither beauty, 9 belle, nora genius-she
Was just u sweet w0maniy woman, with
domestic habits, and great many little
feminine tastes and fancies.
As TO thc Dearing family, they were re-
spectacle, root and branch, and always
had been as far back as memory or records
could go.
At the present time there were none of
them remaining in town save Sallie and
her parents, who were getting to be elder
ly people when she was born.
It's a good house and thoroughly
built" said David, locking around him
with satisfaction. Il allowed none but
the best materials to go into it. 1t might
have been done third cheaper, but said
not is for lifetime"
And so bright and sunny" said Sallie,
"it seems like home already. Some
houses strike a chill SIS soon as you enter
them, but l don't think ours can ever be
one Of that kind"
a. don't think arg house could, with
you for its mistress" returned David, gal
lantly.
In every apartment Sallie found some
thing to praise and admire, from the bay
window in the parlOr to the wash-bOilers
In the back kitchen. Opening the door
of the bed room on the ground floor, she
remarked" This shall be cur fathers
and mothers roorz. It's just near enough
to the parlOr Tor company, and Just far
enough off to be quiet. You must have
planned 1t on pHrpose for them, such a
dear, good DAVID as you are" and the
young lady laid her hand caressingly on
his arm.
David took no notice of the slight adj
vance, however, but stood twirling his
mustache, and looking thoughtful and en-
barrasSed
"Of course my parents ere 10 live with
US ?" said Sallie, questioningly, after a
pause.
81 feared you might be expecting it."
answered David, and / have evaded the
subject In such a way that / hoped you
would understand me without any ex-
planatiOn. Il seems yOU did not, however,
and the explanation may as well come
now as any time II you will think the
matter over, ycu VIII see that this thing
cannot be-
Why not?"
Because nobody could reasonably ex-
pect young man TO take such a burthen
upon his shoulders"
But they'll not be burthen upon you
at least not much. My parents are not
paupers.'
And who'll take care Of them in their
old ageg" asked David.
Who should, but the daughter they
took care OF when she was baby?' re-
piled Sallie
want my wife to aoGit on me-"
81 don't think | should ever fail in my
duty to my husband"
l,
now it's settled, and wen say no more
about It,"
David, put to you the same question
you put TO me- Who will take care of my
parents in their old age? Who, if their
daughter fOrsakes them ?"
al don't ask you to forsake them" said
David, impatiently; that's just like your
blgh-f)wn way Of putting Things / am
willing you should do as much for your
parents IS other people do for theirs; but
who lesitates TO marry and leave the OlG
folks behind? 1t is the way of the world
The young bird forsakes the old nest, anC
buIlcs herself new one"
" But have you never read how the stoTk
that was young and strong winged, car
ried the old one on its back? and would
you have me less dutiful than the fowls ol
the air?" replied Sallie.
"After all, the brute creation are nc
patterns for US" said David, seeing how
Sallie had turned the tables upon him
"And doesn't.the Scriptures say that man
shall leave father and mother and cleaye
unto his wife? Answer me that. O
course, the same rule holds good foI
women, too. So now, my dear, Let us droI
the subject / haven't shown you tlft
second story yet / hope you will admire
the staircase, for | quite pride mysel
upon it." and the young man started tC
lead the way up stairs.
1T is no use to go any further" said
Sailie, mOurnfully, yet firmly.
"What do you mean by that ?" asked
David, pausing and looking back.
THAT shall live where my parents
do"
Without me ?"
"That's for you to decide"
"And hGce decided. OF all the wO
men in the world 1 have chosen you
but when marry you, do not marry
your family"
"Very well, David"
How am | to understand that ?"
THAT you and part company"
Very well, it is, then. But let me tel
you this, I'm not the man to be triflet
with. L. is now or never with me-"
"Ne cr,"-said Sallie
And let me tell you further, that i
you won't be mistress OF this house, there
are plenty that will. There's Jenni,
Burns, the handsOmest girl in the country
i viii not say she is to be had for tn,
asking; but have reason to know sh,
thinks iavorably of me. As TO this freal
of yours, it is nothing more nor less thar
sheer obstinacy under the guise of fila
piety."
"..Hard words avail nothing; but this
viii say, that whoever you bring here, b,
ii Jennie Burns or another, 1 sc}rcel,
think she can be To you what could hav,
been-I, who have loved you go long ant
faithfully. And, David, when you shu
me out of your life and home because
refused To break the Fifth Commandment