Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-09

Il think l wouldn't do that sort of
work here, she said. THE fuzz gets
in the carpet so, and Lizzie doesn't
really want them, l know
You ought to have seen mothers
face change-every bit of interest
faded out of it. / felt so provoked
at Sally. She put the rags away.
and said: Il won't 40 IL If you
think I'd better not, daughter. l
hadn't anything to de-
And, John, Sally went down the
next day and got table.co and
some rope silks and filoselle, and /
don't know what all, and gave them
to mother, and told her she thought
she would find that much nicer than
sewing rags! And so poor mother,
whose hands are trained to knitting
and darning and mending, is labor
ing now with floselle, and yearning
for carpet.rags J"
And John Bascom's heart was
yearning for his mother.
Lizzie" he said, with a mans
helplessness, "what can we do ?"
"1've thought it all out, John"
John frightened. He had great
confidence in his wife's resources.
Well write and ask mother to
come and spend the winter with U.S.
l arranged that before l left. And
then If it is as / think, and mother
is happier here than there, we'll just
keep her-and Sally can't help her
self. In that way it will all be
pleasantly settled, and nobody will
have any feeling"
| How oaSv and natural ~ Soop,o1t
"I'll go down and get her N.Y.
self" John said. "I am going to
Jefferson City next week, anyway"
And so it was settled.
A few hours later as Mr.. Bascom
was sinking into slumber, his wife,
wide awake, asked:
"John, who bought mothers old
Evening Star?'"
Why-y, Mr.. Sam Driscoll,
think. Pm not sure. The book
would show"
"What book 2"
"Why, the account book that the
sales were put down in."
"Oh, OF course! Where is it"
Z" In the lower part of the book
case, with my papers. Why?"
"Oh, nothing. Go on to Sleep"
A week later John Bascom started
for St. Louis. He was to be gone
four days. They were busy days
for Mrs. Bascom. They had decided
to give up the bedroom down stairs,
and she was " fixing it up" "Old
people don't like to sleep up stairs"
she had said.
During the week she had made
sundry trips in her buggy; and af-
ter MIR. Bascom was gone she started
Off with the "big wagon" and the
hired man. When she returned one
would have thought she was going
to start a secondhand furniture
store.
The afternoon of the fourth day
drew to a close. Lizzie was putting
the finishing touches to the room.
They'll be here in minute,n
she said. "I'll just have time to
loop these curtains, and then it will
be all done;" and she looked around
approvingly. Well might she ap-
prove. 1t was the facsimile of
Mother Bascom's old room.
On the floor was the rag carpet
that Father took such an interest
ln'--bright as when it was made.
1t had been on LizZie's darkened
spare room. In one corner was the
old mahogany bureau, and in the
other walnut bedstead with high,
soft feather-bed and home made
counterpane. Near the stove stood
an old, old washstand, painted to
initiate mahogany, with a grayish
mottled top supposed to represent
marble. There was hole in it for
the bowl. Over by the window was
small cherry table. A worn copy
of the Testament and Psalms Law on
| it.
1t was chilly afternoon in early
November, and cheerful fire
cracked in-was it?-yes, it was
really-Mrs. Bascom's old "Even-
ing Star" Two chairs were in front
of the stove-one, a low split-bot-
toned rocker, painted green, the
other a big brown wooden one. 1t
was "Father's chair"
Lizzie had looped the last curtain
and was surveying it critically.
Dotted muslin would have been
prettier," she said; "but bleached
cotton was what mother had. And
hero they come !"
They let her rest awhile in the
sitting-room before taking her to
her room. When she entered it, her
eye fell on the carpet.
why, Lizzie =" she said, "ain't
this my carpet? Why"-she was
looking around the room now
Lizzie, these are my things-that
were sold. Where did you get
them? ?" Her voice was tense and
almost stern.
] bought them back, mother.
They were all in the neighborhood,
and everybody was glad to let me
have them when they knew what /
wanted them for. 1 thought you
would feel more at home if you had
them-don't you like them mother?"
a little anxiously.
Mrs. Bascom had dropped into
chair and covered her eyes with her
hand. She looked up now with tears
streaming down her cheeks.
L" Like them ?" she said. why,
child, have just longed for these
things. | didn't know my heart
was bound to them, or / never
would have let them go. I've tried
to make myself feel how childish it
was, and never told soul how /
felt but oh Lizzie, Pve been so
homesick for my thingsp
She went from one thing to an
other with the delight of a child.
| q" How good that bed will feel this