The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-04-06
Mother For
John Philip
By Harriet G. Garfield
Cocm;ehi 1904, By Hanss c. Can6eh

| NE6Y0REl, b1OSs ~ S4oIoo
John Philip Brown sat up very
straight at bis end Of the breakfast Ia
bic. Mrs. Rachel Noah, at the other
end, could not see his little bare feet
playing tag beneath the table.
Aunt Rachel looks just like my
chicken hawk-anyways she would II
be wore spit curls," he said to himself,
with little chuckle. II bet"- But John
Philips bet was never recorded, for Su-
san appeared just then, red and gig-
Cling.
Mrs. Noah stared at her repEovingiy.
II did not ring" she said sternly.
"No'm, I know you didn't, but She
she's here, an'"-
"'she? 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 thing, an that funny!' Here Su-
san retired again behind her apron.
What does she wantF' Mrs. Noah
asked grimly.
"Well, ma'am," Susan exploded, "she
wants to stayr'
''StayT' her mistress repeated blank
", while John Philip, unreproved,
squirmed with delight: Here was some
thing doing at last.
"Yes'm," Susan went on, "Shes 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 satcbel 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 I 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
q nvelier red. '1Consarn he! 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 I 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 tdee you
was uvin' 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 said I didn't know
she thought she could tell by lookin'
at your teeth, like the hired man at
the home done when be 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 q moment Lat.
er ushered Columbia Farley" into the
august presence Of her mistress. She
was truly "a mite Of thing" with
great dark eyes and most engaging
smile. +
GLOW do you do, Mrs. Noah?' she
said, holding out her hand In a quaint,
old fashioned way. To John Philips
surprise, bis aunt took the little hand
in hers.
$50 you'd like to live here" she said
not unkindly.
"Yes, awful we'll. Don't you need
me?' she asked naively.
II think not" Mrs. Noah said, very
gently for her, "and, besides, : couldn''
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 III sc
with you to the home" The child had
rept thus quickly into a warm corner
Of the grim lady's heart
She was eating her oatmeal when
John Philips father came down to
breakfast and asked 80 kindly, "Whose
little girl s thisY that Columbia &
heart went out to him then and there.
II 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
It'll he got really, truly one"
"a really, truly what?' Mr.. Brown
asked smilingly.
"Why, a mother, Of course. I1earned
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. 1ta
awful nice to have a mother" she said
wistfully. "I asked Tommy Jones II
ha didn't think 80 and he said. Sure