Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
MRS. BASCOM'S THINGS.
A DOMESTIC STORY.

1t was the day before Mrs. Bas-
CONS sale, and the accumulation of
forty years was waiting for it.
Forty years is a long time-long
enough for the rootlets of human
heart to strike deep and take firm
hold. Mrs. BaScom was thinking
this as she walked around the yard
for the last time. She stopped by a
branching maple and laid caressing
hand upon it.
1--WE planted this tree that first
spring." she said, softly to herself.
1t wasn't more than q foot high
and we've grown here together ever
since. Ah me! it's hard to trans
plant old trees"
But there was no help for 1t. She
knew that. When Colonel BascOm
died it became absolutely necessary
to break up the home. John, the
only son, lived near, but he could not
give up his nice new house to go back
to the old place. Sally, the daugh.
ter, lived in st. Louis. Her husband
was prosperous merchant, and, of
course, moorcd. So there was moth.
ing left for Mrs. Bascom but to
"break up" and live with her chill
dren.
The question of where Sally had
settled in her own decisive fashion.
"Of course mother will live with
me-" she said. "Tho daughter-not
the daughter-in-law-is the proper
one 90 have the care of the parents
when they are old"
Mrs. Bascom shrank little at this
frank ayOwal of filial obligation She
was an active womBn Of sixty. She
had not thought to need caring for"
for ten years or more.
Her daughter-in-law was sitting
next to her. She took the withered
hand in hers and stroked it gently.
GAS Sally says, daughter has the
first claim" she said, tenderly; I" but
l am sure mother knows that we
should be glad to have her." And
somehow Mrs. Bascom left COM
forted.
Sally settled the details of the
breaking up in the same summary
manner. 1t was her way of doing
things.
"We'll just make a clean sweep,
| mother" she said. "There's moth
ing worth saving, and Well sell them
ALL"
Mrs. Bascom was taking things out
Of the bureau drawers.
"Don't you think I'd better take
the bureau with me, daughter ?" she
asked, little anxiously. 1t was a
mahogany chest of drawers without
castors.
"Oh, my, no, mother! wouldn't
have that numbering old thing around
for anything. / have a handsome
antique oak dresser in your room
and chiffonier to match. You'll
have all the drawer space you can
possibly use."
Mrs. Bascom was opening and shut
ting the empty drawers aimlessly.
"Pve had this bureau forty years."
she said, as If to herself. 1--WE pur-
chased it when we went to house
keeping. l suppose it is a little old
tashioned"--there was a touch of
wounded feeling in her voice" but
it was considered fine piece or fur
niture in its day. The top drawer
was fathers; and the second drawer
was the one kept my baby clothes
in. 1 can just see Johns little-cam-
brio shirts, trimmed with thred edg-
ing, now! Sally, it seems like /
would hate to sell this bureauW
"I'll take it, mother, and keep it
for you," said Lizzie, quietly.
why, LiZzie," demonstrated her
sister-in- law, "you haven't any room
for it.n
"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 as
she went from one to another, sitting
a moment i'm " father's CHAIR" and