The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-28

II was the day before Mrs Bascom's
sale ana the accumulation OF forty years
was waiting for It, Forty years Is long
time-iong enough for the rootiets OF
human heart to strike deep and take firm
hold. Mrs. Basoom was thinking this as
sne walked around the yard Tor the last
time. Sho stopped by branching maple
and laid u caressing hand upon it.
1--WE planted this tree that first spring.
she said softly 20 herself. "It wasn't
more than foot Highland we've grown
here together ever since. An. rue, its
hard to transplant old trees.
But there was no help for IL. She know
that When Col. Basoom died IL became
absolutely necessary to break up the
homo. John, the only son, lived near.
but ne could not give up his nice new
house to go back TO the old place. sally,
the daughter, lived in 1t. Louis. Her
husband was prosperous merchant, ana,
OF course, moored. 30 there was nothing
left for Mrs. Bascom but TO "broak up
and live with her children.
The question Was of where, sally had
settled in her own decisive fashion.
"Of course mother will live with ne.
she said "Ihe danghter-not the daugb-
ter-in Jaws the proper one To have tue
care of tho parents when they are old.
Mrs Bascom shrank little Mt this
frank avowal of filled obligation. she
was an active woman OF 60. She had not
thought to need OF earring for ten
years or more.
co her. She took the witbered hand IN
hers and stroked IL gently.
LAS Sally says, a daughter has the first
claim. she asid. tenderly; but am
sure mother knows that we woCld be glad
TO have her" And somehow Mrs Bas-
com felt comforted.
sally settled the details of tho breaking
up in the same summary manner. 1t was
her way Of doing things
Wen just mako a clean sweep, moth
or, she said. There's nothing worth
saving and we'll soil them all. "
Mrs. Eascom was taking things out OF
the bureau drawers
''Don't you think ia better take the
bureau with me, daughter she asked,
little anxiously. 1t was mahogany
chest of drawers without casters.
"Oh my, no, mother i wouldn't have
that lum bering old thing around for any
thing. have handsome antique oak
dresser in your room, and chinonlsr
TO match. You'll have all the drawer
space you can possible use. -
Mrs. Bascom was opening and shutting
the empty drawers 0inlessly.
I've had that bureau forty years, she
said as IL To herself. I'VE bought IL
when we went to housekeeping. suppose
IL IL a little old fashioned '-thero was a
touch of wounded feeling in her voice
Dut III WAS cOUslueTeu llHc plccc VI
furniture In its dny. The top drawer was
fathers, and the second drawer was the
one kept my baby clothes in. L can Just
see Johns little linen cambria shirts,
trimmed with thread edging. now sally.
IL seems like | would hate TO sell this
bureau"
'I'u take it, mother, and keep 1t for
you" said Lizzie, quietly.
"Why, LizZie.' demonstrated her sister
in.law, lyon haven't any room for IL. -
"I'll make room, said Mrs. John
Bascom, little curtly.
The old lady was not much help. Every
article in the house was full OF tender
memories To her, and rs she went from
one To another, sitting moment IN
fathers chair - and touching this
thing and that, size was clearly giving d
good to them all. such hoid in
animate things will get upon the atfec
tions!
"Yuu wouldn't have any use Tor this
new rng carpet, would you. daughter
None in the world, mother.
II didn't know but You might put 10 In
the back part of the housa. l tooka heap
or pains with this carpet, and nearly the
last thing father did was 10 bring IL hom'
from the weavers. lie took such an inter
est in it when | was making it. father
did. You don't think you'd better put /
down in my room. do you, Sally
"Oh, no, mother; it wouldn't be III
tren I've just put down new bod,
Brussels
| don't feel that there is anything TOT
good for my mother" " affectionately.
Mrs. Bascom smiled mack bravely, III
she looked wistfully at the carpet, afte
all.
And so it went.
The things were all sold. and when Mrs
Bascom started for IT. Louis with he
earthly belonging packed in new trunS
she was as stripl ed and desolato an ol'
woman as ever swallowed her tears an
smiled. Ii was as IL a grapevine ha
been prepared for traDsp!anting by care
fully shaking tho eartn from its root
and clipping its tendrils neatly away.
They did not hear from her often. Sail
had said she would have oil the time ther
was now to write lctttrS but letter writ
of her busy country life aud when leisur
came sne was too old TO form new habit
MIR John Bascom went down 20 ~
Lou.s at the tiIne of the fair, nearly
year after the Lreaking up She stage
three weeks
The night she came back She had
plain talk with nor husband
John" she said in answer TO his IN
uuiries, mother is dying of homesick z cs'
She never makes a complaint. but she
just AS unhappy as she can bel Know 81
is "
why, Lizzie" John Bascom raised
shocked face. lyon don't mean thU
Sally isn't good TO mothery'
sally is Just as good 70 mother as st
can be that is. she is as good 20 her rs 81
knows how To To But John, SALLY "a
no more understanding of old people
fenIin.s than | have Of + rencb art
is like this: Sally wants mother to ta'
an easy time: so she takes her out OF q
active country life full OF cara tor ot6e
people, and puts hor In or own far-awr
city homo, where there Is not "a famiiii;