Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-03-10

comfort TO every one on earth that
needs help"
"Golly, she's some mother, amt
she?" breathed Polly sOberly. shes
beautiful too. Squatter mammies has
too many kids TO stay handsome like
her" She made a backward motion
with her thumb toward the fence and
searched his face gravely.
A choking sensation In Roberts
throat made him cough. The girls
statement was like a charcoal draw
ing in which a few broad lines tell the
whole story. He felt his interest in
her increase. She was the quaintest,
prettiest and most solemn child he had
ever seen. Yes. he knew she was an
inhabitant Of the Silent City by the
clothes she wore, and the thin, bow
legged child, to say nothing Of the be-
%whiskered goat and woolly lamb that
were with her.
whats your name?" he inquired.
Just Pollyop," was the answer.
"Polly Hopkins. My daddy is Jere-
miah Hopkins, the mayor of this set
tlement."
Surely! Robert remembered very
well Mackenzie speaking of Hopkins,
and he remembered too the painted
invitation over a hut door as If it
were before his eyes. Looking POllyop
over from the top of her curly head to
the tips Of her bare feet, he decided
that she had written it.
Question after question he flung at
her, and answer after answer came
from Polly's lips. She told him where
she lived, and how she cooked the
beans, bacon and fish Daddy Hopkins
provided; how cold 1t was in the
Shanty when the cruel north wind
swept up the lake; and how wet it
was when the rain fell and clammy
fogs shrOuded the world in gray how
Granny Hope vas sick with pains. She
gave him an inside view of life in the
Silent City. Long before she had fin.
ished her recital, Percival's courtesy
had rut her at her ease, and she was
chattering like a magpie.
Can | do something for YOU, Polly
Hopkins?' queried Robert, as she fin,
ished telling about life in the squat
ters' city,
She flung out both hands in a com
prehensive gesture as much as to say
he could see for himself how much si,
needed.
Sure, sure you can" she said will
fierce emphasis. you can make Oh,
Mare leave us squatters be. Your,
bigger'n he is. The squatters Nee
you awful bad"
Her voice broke. Robert took a lon;
breath. OF curse he could help thi
girl and her people. He would, too
AS far as money gave power, he coul,
equal and surpass Marcus Mackenzie
Il did try to talk SENSE into MI
MacKenzie's head" he returned pres
emily, "but now | will make him leav
you alone"
In spite of the curved lips abou
which a smile lurked, there was apprt
hension in her voice when she asked
Can you lick i'm to a finish, mi!
ter?"
Eyes, | think I could laughed Rol
ert but it won't be necessary"
"Then | see us Silent City folL
bein' happy again. sighed Polly. "W
got a awful lot of things an folks
take care of here"
Robert made a sweep with his af
that e~ncompassed the group befoI
him.
] You have, evidently !" he laughed
! AN | got more home" i~nterjectt
] Polly. ~ got Daddy Hopkins a
l Granny nope-an' this brat is n
brother, an this goat is Billy Hopkil
] an this lambs Nannyop. oh, SUI
sir. I've got a hull lot to love in tn
e good old city,"
r. Polly made m upward motion wi
.r her hand toward the picture on t
fence.
"She's got Il bunch to love, too" $
he said softly. "Ain't She?'
I, He walked to her side and conte
plated with her the pictured won,
Of making her silent appeal to them
the wounded boy in her rms
"Of course she has" answered p
cival %reverently. shes the Great,
Mother in the World. Polly Hopki
and-and-' his gaze dropped VI
her, and he continued, "and you're
ii. littleSt mother in the world"
IN A glad smile widened the girls II
H. All the fear that had been as a
r. weight upon her had fallen away. 5
al wanted to pay him the highest com
IS ment she knew. When he had mou
r. ed. she told him gently:
"Some day youm he the biggest
IS most heautifuleSt daddy In the wo
Up Good-hy."