Arizona republican., 1904-03-15
Found A Mother

phoned direct to Reggie's father.
 The O'Roukes were at supper when a great Knocking at the kitchen door disturbed their hilarious chatter. breath of violets greeted Bridget's nos trils as she opened the door. There was a silken rustic at the landing, swept past her like a whirlwind, and the next instant an elegantly dressed woman was kneeling beside Reggie on her kitchen floor. What she said no one understood, for she was greatly agitated, but Reggie's sweet, piping treble cut through her incoherence like a knife blade.
 "Oh, mamma, I don't want to go home!" he walled.
 Why. Reggie!" his mother cried tremblingly, lifting wet face from his rumpled denim. Don't you want to go with your own mamma? Aren't you glad to see me?"
 T don't want to go home" he re- peated disconsolately, cause l love Pat an Katie an mammy such a dreadful lot.'
 His mother struggled to her feet and looked around the table at the four rosy faces perched at the edges of as many big yellow bowls containing var ious quantities of bread and milk, then her eyes strayed to Bridget's round, pleasant face.
 You must have been very kind to my little boy to have made him like you so much" said she trying to speak cordially but not succeeding al- together, for the oilcloth table cover, the thick yellow bowls and the tin spoons repelled her dainty tastes.
 Sure, no wan could help bein' good to him, tn swate little tyke" answer ed Mrs. O'Rouke warmly. "Th' childer tux to him like ducks to water. Sure, he's been no trouble at all. It's sor- ry I'll be to lose inn"
 Explanations followed, at the end of which Reggie was bundled into his own clothes and told to bid farewell to his new friends. He chung desper- ately to Bridget's neck, begging to be allowed to stay.
 Me darlint, I'd kape ye in mint if yer mother'd let me. Sure, I love ev- cry inch of yer swate self but there's yer own nanny wantin' ye."
 My mammy!" Reggie repeated in fearful surprise. I haven't got no mammy. She's just mamma"
 Yer, mommer. thin" Bridget cor rected.
 
 gie protested.
 His mother listened with whitening face and visible tightening of the del- licate lips. "Come here, Reginald" she commanded austerely, but did not wait for him to obey her. Instead she went over to where Bridget knelt wip- ing his fearful eyes with her apron and stopping down took his curly head be- tween her hands.
 T do love you, Reggie" said she in voice that sounded very unfamiliar 10 him. And l am going to make you love me just as you love mammy only more-a great deaf more. You are go- ing to have d real true mammy of your own after this, my dearest boy
 She clasped him so close that he felt her heart beat against her breast, and that warm embrace made him almost believe her incredible promise Can come back an see Pat an Katie an mammy?'' he asked in a whisper.
 Yes"
 Then I'll go," he said bravely. slip ping his hand into hers. At the door the young and beautiful mother paused and looked back at Bridget with her rosy brood clinginx to her skirts, and something in her good, serene face made Reggies moth CT step back impulsively and put both | hands on her plump shoulders. 'I nev- CT realized how dearly loved him un- til now said she tremulously nor how sadly I have neglected him. There have been 90 many other things to claim my time and attention, but I am going to begin all over and make up for all he has missed"
 God bless is swate little soul" said Bridget sunnily. Hes found is moth CT at last"