The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-02-07

they will, Cause YOU love 'efn so. It's
awful nice to have mother" she said
wistfully. 81 asked Tommy Jones II
he didn't think so, and he said, Sure
| thing!'"
John Philip tried to scowl, but his
forehead refused to pucker, and when
his father said, "Shall we let her adopt
you, son.? he laughed outright. we
we-might give her try" he stammer-
ed.
And so it happened that Columbia
Farley entered the Brown family ION
probation" and later was taken into
full membership"
1t was on a Saturday morning, a
month or more after Columbia had
been received into full membership
that the children were playing together
in the garden.
81 guess I'll go wadin' this after
noon," John Philip announced. "Aunt
Rachel would just worry If 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
John Philip did not object to "dearing'
In private, IAN | don't believe you'd
better GO"
"Poohr John Philip rejoined. You
amt my mother. l amt had mother
since was born"
NO" she sighed, IF you had real
ly truly one l guess you'd have to
mind. Your father might get you one"
John Philip grinned. He's too busy"
he said, "but / 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 we
| liked her awful well-daddy an me
an we took her picture one day-snap-
shot-I mean daddy did. He's got it
yet. Come up to his room, and I'll hunt
| for it,
| The children fed into the house and
up to Mr. Browns sitting room. Be-
hind a tall vase John Philip found the
object of his search. For a moment Co
lumbia gazed at it with wondering
eyes, "Why, it's herr she shouted, with
more force than grammar. ITS my
Miss Curtis! She lives near the home.
Course she's awful nicer She gazed
long and lovingly at the picture. Say"
she said at last, "s'pose we get her for
your motherT'
Thereupon followed a discussion Of
ways and means, and it was not until
after luncheon that the committee Of
two set forth in quest Of mother for
John Philip. 1t was a very startled
and amazed young lady who listened
to their plea. 1t was Columbia who Of
fered the most persuasive argument
HE hasn't anybody but his Aunt
Rachel and his father" she said plead
ingly, IAN he keeps your picture back
Of vase, an y
"Who keeps my pictureY' Miss Cur
tbs interrupted, her sweet face flush
ing rose red.
why, John Philips father" Column
bia explained. Il s'pose you didn't
know bout it then"
mo, didn't know" she said 'I
didn't know" she repeated to herself
again and again.
Now you know, an won't you
come, please" 1t was John Philip
who pleaded now. Miss Curtis stoop-
ed and took his freckled little face be-
tween her slender white hands. an
think of it, DEAR" she promised, but
1t will be better not to mention your
your proposal to your father"
John Philip did not agree with her,
and that very evening he broke the
news to his unsuspecting father. Co
lumbia, with rare delicacy, had declin-
ed to be present.
Daddy" John Philip said bluntly, 81
asked her-Columbia an me-"
Philip Brown looked up from his pa
per. He was fine specimen Of man
hood-strong Of body and mind, clean
of heart and still on 1.-The sunny side''
of forty.
ASKED whomr he said. ASKED
what?"
Miss Curtis, you know. IL asked
her to be my mother"
Philip Brown sat up very straight
and stared at his small son and heir.
Don't you want herr" the little fell
low said, struggling manfully to keep
back the tears Il said was sure you
wanted her, same as did"
What did she say?" The question
came from between white lips.
'She didn't know you had her pic
ture till Columbia told her. She said
she'd think about it, but I'd better not
tell you I'd asked her to-
But John Philip was talking to the
empty air. His father was out of the
room before the last sentence was fin
ished. He had seized his hat and van
ished
Gee" John Philip said to himself,
we've done it now. l guess-Colum-
bia an mer'
They had. The bride and groom said
so on their wedding day. John Philips
father had suggested that the orches-
ira play Hail Columbia" while the
knot was being tied, but, strange to
say, the bride elect objected.