Evening journal., 1905-01-27
Mother For
John Philip
By Harriet G. Garfield
cooyashl, 1904. b iIaHi-. c. caufsld

end, could not see his little bare feet
playing tag beneath the table.
aunt Rachel looks just like my
chicken hawk-anyways she would If
he wore spit curls," he said to himself,
with a 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.
"No'm, 1 know you didn't, but She
she's here, an -
"'SheY Take your apron down from
your mouth and talk connectedly. Who
is hereT
columbia - Columbia Farley. She
says that's her name, ma'am, an she's
from the Orphans home-a little mite
Of thing, an that funnyp Here Su-
san retired again behind her apron.
"What does she want?" Mrs. Noah
asked grimly.
"Well, ma'am," Susan exploded, 'she
wants to stayr'
"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 a
long time, but it want till this morn
in that she decided she'd live with
you. She's a-settin' on her satchel out
in the kitchen"
Mrs. Noah fairly snorted with aston
ishment and indignation. "Much obiig-
ed to her, I'm sure" she said sarcas-
tically, "and may l ask what decided
her in our favor?"
1T was John Philip, ma'am," Susan
said. choking with laughter. "She-she
says she wants to be a mother to him."
John Philips face matched his hair
in color now; even the freckles took on
a livelier red "COnsarn hep he said
under his breath.
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? Ny oatmeal is get
ting cold. Don't stand there giggling
like an idiot"
"She wondered how old you was,
maam, an when l said I didn't know
she thought she could tell by lookin'
at your teeth, like the hired man at
the home done when he bought q
horse"
A great wave of color rolled over
Mrs Noahs face and broke on the
beach Of spit curls" outlining her high
forehead. Bring her in," she said,
closing her thin lips tightly over her
"store" teeth.
Susan disappeared and a moment lat
er ushered columbia Farley" into the
august presence of her mistress. She
was truly "a mite of a thing" with
great dark eyes and a most engaging
smile
How do you do, Mrs. NoahY" 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 hereG' she said
not unkindly
Yes, awful well. Don't you need
me?" she asked naively.
Il think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently FOR her, "and, besides, couldn'
take you without the consent Of tn,
matron at the home"
"Oh, she won't care!" the little cir
exclaimed eagerly. There's too many
Of us now and"-
'Well," Mrs. Noah interrupted, "yol
can stay to breakfast, and then III z,
with you to the home" The child haC
Gept thus quickly into a warm corner
Of the grim lady's heart.
She was eating her oatmeal whel
John Philips father came down t,
breakfast and asked so kindly, "Whos,
little girl is thisg that Columbia'i
heart went out to him then and there.
Il don't know" she said simply il
reply TO his question. "They aim
found out yet at the home, but l know
how old l am. I'm going on seven
I'm little, but maybe rd do for him
she nodded cheerily at John Philip
''till he got a really, truly one"
"a really, truly what?" Mr.. Brown
asked smilingly.
"Why, a mother, Of course. Learned
how to be one from Mis- Jones. Sh,
has eight children. She lives near thr
home. You just help 'em be good, an,
they will, cause you love 'em so. IT.
awful nice to have a mother" she sal,
wistfully. II asked Tommy Jones 4
he didn't think so, and he said, Sur,
thingv"
John Philip tried to scowl, but hi
forehead refused to pucker, and wheI
his father said, "Shall we let her adop
you, sonT' he laughed outright. we
we-might give her a try" he stammer
ed.
And so it happened that Columbi,
Farley entered the Brown family "or
probation" and later was taken int,
"full membership"
1t was on a Saturday morning,
month OF more after Columbia ha,
been received into full membership
that the children were playing togethe
in the garden.
> 81 guess I'll go wadin' this after
z noon," John Philip announced. "Aun
Rachel would just worry IL told her
and daddy won't be home for lunch, s.
{ I can't ask him."