Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-03-09
Mother For
John Philip
By Harriet g. Garfield
Copyright 1904. by Haniet C. Can6eld

chicken hawk-anyways she would If
he wore spit curls," he said TO himself,
with little chuckle Il bet But John
Philips bet was never recorded, for Su-
san appeared just then, red and gig
Cling.
Mrs. Noah stared at her reprovingly.
Il did not ring" she said sternly.
Nom, know you didn't, but she
she's here, an
"'SheF Take your apron down from
your mouth and talk connectedly. Who
is here|
Columbia - Columbia Farley. She
says that's her name, ma'am, an she's
from the Orphans home-a little mite
of a thing, an that funnyr' Here Su-
san retired again behind her apron.
what does she want:" Mrs. Noah
asked grimly.
"Well, ma'am;" Susan exploded, "she
wants to stay!'
"Stay?' her mistress repeated blank
ly, while John Philip, unreproved,
squirmed with delight. Here was some
thing doing at last.
"Yes'm," Susan went on, "She's had
her eye on this house, she says, for
long time, but it want till this morn
in that she decided shed live with
you She's a.settini on her satchel out
in the kitchen"
Mrs Noah fairly snorted with aston
ishment and Indignation. Much oblig-
ed to her, I'm sure" she said sarcas-
ticaliY, "and may ask what decided
her in our favor?"
"It was John Philip, ma'am," Susan
said, choking with laughter. "She-she
says she wants TO be mother to him."
John Philips face matched his hair
in color now; even the freckles took on
a livelier red. "Consarn her' he said
under his breath.
i.Any moref" his aunt asked, with
the air of one prepared for the worst.
"Yes'm; she asked what your name
was, an when l said Mrs. Noah she
was that surprised. she said she'd
heard about you an Mr.. Noah at Sun
day school, but she had no idee you
was livin' yet"
Anything more? My oatmeal is get
ting cold. Don't stand there giggling
like an idiot:
;She wondered hew old you was,
maam, an when l said l didn't know
she thought she could tell by lookin'
at your teeth, like the hired man at
the home done when he bought
horse"
A great wave of color rolled over
Mrs Noah's face and broke on the
haoob op sscpit o,,r1ci: ortIinino ba, biUb
forehead .:Bring her in" she said,
closing her thin lips tightly over her
'store" teeth.
Susan disappeared and moment lat
er ushered Columbia Farley" into the
august presence OF her mistress. She
was truly "a mite of thing" with
great dark eyes and most engaging
smile.
"How do you do, Mrs. Noah?' she
said, holding out her hand in a quaint,
old fashioned way. To John Philips
surprise, his aunt took the little hand
in hers.
$50 you'd like to live here?" she said
not unkindly.
eyes, awful we'll. Don't you need
me?' she asked naively.
II think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently for her, "and. besides, couldn't
take you without the consent of the
matron at the home"
ooh, she won't carer the little girl
exclaimed eagerly. There's too many
Of us now and"-
"Well," Mrs. Noah interrupted, you
can stay to breakfast, and then I'll 60
with you to the home" The child had
erept thus quickly into warm corner
OF the grim lady's heart.
She was eating her oatmeal when
John Philips father came down to
breakfast and asked so kindly, "Whose
little girl is this2' that Columbias
heart went out 10 him then and there.
II don't know" she said simply in
reply to his question. "They amt
found out yet at the home, but know
how old / am. Pm going on seven.
I'm little, but maybe I'd do for him"
she nodded cheerily at John Philip
''till he got really, truly one"
"a really, truly whatY" Mr.. Brown
asked smilingly.
"Why, mother, of course. / learned
how to be one from Mis- Jones. She
has eight children. She lives near the
home. You just help 'em be good, and
they will, cause you love 'em so. It's
awful nice to have a mother she said
wistfully. 81 asked Tommy Jones If
he didn't think 50, and he said, Sure
thingr"
John Philip tried to scowl, but his
forehead refused to pucker, and when
his father said, "Shall we let her adopt
you, SOM" he laughed outright. 1--WE
we-might give her try" he stammer-
%.
And so it happened that Columbia
Farley entered the Brown family ION
probation" and later was taken into
full membership"
I 1t was on a Saturday morning, q
month or more after Columbia had
been received into full membership,
that the children were playing together
in the garden
II guess I'll SO wadtn' this after
pooD," John Philip announced. Aunt
Rachel would just worry IL told her,
and daddy won't be home for lunch, so
1 can't ask him.
I'm 'fraid you'll be drown-ded,
dear" the little mother said anxiously
Uohn Philip did not object to "dearing''
III private), "an' | don't believe you'd
better CO."
"Pooh!H John Philip rejoined. "You
amt my mother. | amt had mother
since was born
NO" she sighed, "if you had a real
~ truly one l guess you'd have ta
mind. Your father nigh. Got you one"
John Philip grinned. Hes too busy"
he said, "but I know one I'd like to get.
Last summer we was down at Cove
Inlet three weeks-daddy an mean
there was jolly nice girl there. an wo
liked her awful well-daddY an me
aI,' we took her picture one day-snap-
sRet-t mean daddy did He's got it
yeh. Come UP to his room, and I'll hunt
for lit"
The children fled into the house and
up ito Mr.. Browns sitting room, Be-
hind a tall vase John Philip found the
object of his search. For a moment Co
iumbia gaZed at it with wondering
eyesl "Why, it's her" she shouted, with
mofe force than grammar. Its my
MISS Curtis! She lives near the home.
Course she's awful nice" She gazed