The Press., 1905-05-10
Mother For
John Philip
By Harriet c. cAnfield
copyIshs. 1904. by Hanies C. can6eH


'I did not ring" she said sternly.
Nom, 1 know you didn't, but She
she's here, an'"-
"'SheY Take your apron down from
your mouth and talk commercially. 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 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 stayr'
"Stay?" her mistress repeated blank
", 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 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 oblig-
ed to her, I'm sure" she said sarcas-
! tically, "and may / ask what decided
her in our favor?"
at 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 Hvelier red "Consarn hep 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 1 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 how old you was,
ma'am, an when 1 said 1 didn't know
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. Noah's 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 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 most engaging
smile.
"How do you do, Mrs. NoahP' 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.
ST think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently for her, land, besides, 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 this?'' that Columbia g
heart went out to him then and there.
81 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. I'm 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 what?' Mr.. Brown
asked smtlingly.
''Why, a mother, Of course. 1 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. 'I asked Tommy Jones II
he didn't think so; and he said, Sure
thingp"
John Philip tried to scowl, but his
forehead refused to quicker, and when
his father said, ''Shall we let her adopt
you, sonT he laughed outright. eve
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, q
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, sc
1 can't ask him."
"Tm 'fraid you'll be drown-ded
DEAR" the little mother said anxiously
John Philip did not object to 'dearing'
in private), 'an' 1 don't believe you'd
better CO."
"Poohp' John Philip rejoined. "You
amt my mother. amt had a mother
since was born"
NO" she sighed, ''if you had real
ly truly one 1 guess you'd have to
mind. Your father might get you one"
John Philip grinned. Hes 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 ii
yet. Come up to his room, and I'll hunt