Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-01-06


bear to throw away, because they
would make somebody such good car
pet-rags.' Get them out, I said,
and sew them for my carpet. They
are just what l need.
John, you ought to have seen how
interested she was. Iu ten minutes
we were in the midst of billOws of
rags and an animated discussion Of
dyes. Just then Sally walked in.
Why, mother, she said, what in
the world are you doing?'
I'm just making some carpet
rag. for Lizzie, daughter, mother said,
depreciatingly,
81 think wouldn't do that sort Of
work here, she said. The fuzz gets
in the carpet so, and Lizzie doesn't
really want them, | know.
"You ought to have seen mother 5
face change-every bit of interest
faded out of it. I felt so provoked
ct Sally. She put the rags away,
and said 4 won't do it if you think
I'd better not, daughter. l hadn't
anything to do.
"And, John, Sally went down the
next day and got table-cover, and
some rope silks and floselle, and l
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 laIOring
now with filoselle, and yearning for
carpet-rags :"
And John Bascom heart was yearn-
ing for his mother.
Lizzie, he said, with a man 5
helplessness, what can we do?'
I'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 us. l ar
ranged that before I left. And then
If it is as ! think, and mother is hap
pier here than there, well Just keep
her-and Sally can't help herself. In
that way it will all be pleasantly set
tied, and nobody will have any feel
ing"
How easy and natural it seemed.
"Tll 60 down and get her myself,
John said. Il 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 p"
"Why-y, Mr.. Sam DriscOll, | think.
I'm not sure. The book would show.
What book ~
"Why, the account book that the
sales were put down in.
ooh, of course Where is it?'
In the lower part of the bookcase,
with my papers. Why ?"
ooh, 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" "OId people don t
like to sleep upstairs" she had said.
During the week she had made sun
dry trips in her buggy and after Mr..
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 sec
ond-hand 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, she
said. III just have time to loop these
curtains, and then it will be all done
and she looked around approvingly.
Well might she approve. 1t was the
fac-simile Of Mother Bascom's old room.
On the floor was the rag carpet
that Father took such an interest in
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 another walnut bed
stead with high, soft feather-bed aud
homemade counterpane. Near the
stove stood an old, old washstand,
painted to initiate mahogany, with a
grayish mottled top supposed to rep
resent marble. Their. was hole in
it for the bowl. Over by the window
was a small cherry table. A worn
copy of the Testament and Psalms lay
en- it.