Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-03-04
Mother For
John Philip
By Harriet G. Garfield
Copyright. 1904. by iames C. Cankeld


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 II little chuckle Il bet But John
Philips bet was never recorded. for SUI
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
.'Shey 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 funny Here SUI
san retired again behind her apron.
What does she wantg' 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 1t want till this morn
in that she decided she'd live with
you. She's a-settin' on her satchel out
I'm the Kitchen"
Mrs. Noah fairly snorted with aston
ishment and Indignation. Much oblig-
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 her he said
under his breath.
Any more:' his aunt asked, with
the air of one prepared for the worst.
"Yes'm; she asked what your name
was, an when 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 glggling
like an idiot"
''She wondered how old you was,
she thought she could tell by lookin'
at your teeth, like the hired man at
the home done when he bought a
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. Noah?' she
said, holding out her hand in 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.
Yes. awful well. Don't you need
me?" she asked naively.
Il think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently for her, land, besides, 1 couldn't
take you without the consent of the
matron at the home"
"Oh, 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 go
with you to the home" The child had
crept 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 thisY" that Columbia s
heart went out to him then and there.
Il don't know" she said simply in
reply to his question. "They amt
found out yet at the home, but know
how old I am. Pm going on seven.
I'm little. but maybe I'd do for him"
she nodded cheerily at John Philip
IT'LL he got a really, truly one"
"a really. truly what?" 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. II asked Tommy Jones If
he didn't think so. and he said. Sure
thingv"
John Philip tried to scowl. but his
forehead refused to quicker, and shen
his father said. "Shall we let her adopt
you, SOM" 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 Saturday morning, a