The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-18
Mother For
John Philip
By HAnsss @. cAnfssId


sshn uatip bEVWu out W WY
straight at his end Of the breakfast "a.
ble Mrs. Rachel Noah, at the othez
end. could not zee his little bare feel
playing tag beneath the table.
.Annt Rachel looks Just like my
chicken hawk-snyways she would II
be wore spit curis," he said TO himself,
with little chuckle. II bet But John
Philips bet was never recorded, for su.
san appeared just then, red and zig.
Cling.
Mrs. Noah stared at her reproyingly.
u did not ring" she said sternly. !.
Nom, I know you didn't but She
she's here, an -
"'Sher Take your apron down from
your mouth and talk connectedly. Who
b hereY' .
sColumbia ~ Columbia Farley. She
says that's her name, ma'afn, an she's
from the Orphans home-a little mite
Of thing, an that funnyr' Here su.
san retired again behind her apron.
what does she wantT Mrs. Noah
asked grimly.
well, ma'am.' Susan exploded, 'shs
wants TO stayr
"Htayf 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 II want till this morn
In that she decided she'd live with wit.
you. She's a.settin' on her satchel out
In the kitchen"
Mrs. Noah fairly snorted with aston
ishment and Indignation. much oblig-
Cd TO her, I'm sure" she said sarcas-
ucally, "and may I ask what decided
har In our favorT'
TT 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
q iivelier red. ''Consarn her he said
under his breath.
ANY moreT 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 Twin yet"ia . saas
Anything more? My oatmeal Is get
ting cold, Don't stand there giggling
like an idiot" s. ,s4~
"she wondered how old you was,
ma'am, an when ! said / didn't know
she thought she could tell by iookin'
at your teeth, like the hired man ut
the home done when he bought
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 |
or ushered Columbia Farley" into the
august presence Of her mistress. She
was truly "a mite Of q thing" with |
great dark eyes and a most engaging |
smile.
How do You do. Mrs. Noahr' she
said, holding out her hand in quaint,
old fashioned way. To John Philips |
surprise. his aunt took the little hand
In hers.
80 you'd like to live hsrsr' she said
not unkindly.
Yes, awful well. Don't you need
mef" she asked 9aively.
II think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently for her, land, besides, l couldn't
take you without the consent Of the
matron at the home"
"0h, she won't carey' 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 so
with you TO the home" The child had
crept thus quickly into warm corner
Of the grim lady's heart v IN
She was eating her oatmeal when
John Philips father came down to
breakfast and asked so kindly, Whose
little girl is thisr that Colpmbias
heart went ont to him then and there.
II don't know" she said simply In
'eply to his question. "They amt
found out yet at the home. but I, know
how old | am, I'm going on seven.
I'm little, but maybe I'd do for him"
-she nodded cheerily at John Philip
TIL he got really. truly one" = z
"A really, truly whatT Mr. Brown
lsked smilingly. E~
Why, mother, of course. / learned
low to be one from Mis- Jones. She
las eight children. She lives near the
lome. You just help 'em be good, and
hey will, cause you love 'em so. It's
Iwful nice to have mother" she said
II asked Tommy Jones If
'e didn't think so, and he said. Sure
hlngr"
John Philip tried to scowl. but his !
crehead refused to pucker, and when ,
is father said "Shall we let her adopt
on, son?" he laughed outright. "We-
1e--might give her try" he stammer.
d.
And SO 1t happened that Columbia {