The Glenwood post., 1924-07-17
The Most
Beautiful
Mother
By ELLA SAUNDERS

IT had not always been ~ it was.
Johnny was too little to under
stand things very well. but still he
could remember when things had been
very different. For one thing. the
chief thing, Johnny had had 4 mother.
She was the most beautiful mother
In the world. She used to tuck Johnny
Into bed at night, and she and father
were always happy ana Laughing to-
gether. That seemed terribly long
ago. And then she had gone away. and
he had been forbidden to speak about
her.
They had told him she was dead, but
Johnny knew somehow, with a child's
Instinct that she wasn't dead. Even
though Aunt Anne, whom he trusted.
told him that she was dead, he knew
1t wasn't so. Something had happened
to her, and the mystery perplexed him
terribly.
And he worried over 1t, AZ child
will. He knew father could solve the
mystery, but he dared not ask father.
He was afraid of father-and yet
there had been time when he had not
been afraid of him at all. But that
mother were always laughing together.
Now everything was changed. This
hard, cold, silent man was not the
father Johnny had known.
Especially the child wondered what
had happened to his mother when he
was In bed at night. There was no one
to tuck him in now. Aunt Anne put
him to bed sometimes, but he didn't
feel 1t was the same at all. He prayed
to God to send his mother back to
him. He told Aunt Anne about his
prayer.
"Johnny, listen to me. Your mothers
dead,' said Aunt Anpe. "She will
never come back. You must learn to
forget her."
Forget herl That was the last thing
on earth that Johnny could do. He
heard Aunt Anne telling father what
he had said.
"The child's fretting for her." she
said. "He must be taught to forget
her."
"My Godr said father. 'If 1 could
forget"
The child crept away. He knew 1t
was very serious when anyone spoke
Of God.
And the next night, when father had
taken Aunt Anne out somewhere, and
only deaf old Mrs Patrick was In the
house, Johnny lay awake. Dear God,
Ill, h<, x,ex1
And then he started up, terrified, for
the door was opening softly. The
light was 0switched on. Before him
stood his mother. just as he remem-
bered her, more beautiful, II anything.
wearing her hat and cloak. With a
glad cry he leaped into her arms.
How happy they were. Johnny told
her how he had known she wasn't
dead. and how he had prayed to see
her. Their tears ran down together.
"Do you really love me7 mother
asked.
BEST In the world"
Listen, Johnny. Are you a brave
boy? Would you like to come away
with me. even If you never saw any
OF tnem egalnF
Johnny told her he would. He was
quite excited over the prospect Of the
adventure. He understood that moth
er had come back into the house when
they were all away, except for old
Mrs. Patrick, to take him with her.
I'VE shall be poor. Johnny. but we'll
be happy" she said.
And suddenly he heard mother pray
Ing. Dear God" she said, '.if. am
doing the right thing. tell me. Thou
knowest that I wish to do the right
thing by the child"
Johnny grew very serious. He un-
derstood now that this adventure was
wonderful thing, more so than he
had imagined, and that If mother went
away without him now he would never
see her again.
Get your things on. then, Johnny
she said. And hurriedly she began
helping the child to dress. But at the
sound of footsteps outside. she stopped
looking toward the door in agonized
fenr.
1t opened. Father stood in the room
He looked from mother to Johnny, hif
mouth set In satiricul smile.
$50 you have come back, Ella |" he
said.
For him. He's mine. I'm going to
take him I"
"You shall not. The law"
"A mothers heart is beyond the law,
Charles" t
Johnny burst into sohs. He ran to
his mother, clung to her. you zee,
Charles" she said triumphantly.
"Ella-"
"He wants me. He"
.Ella. want him. too. Stay with
MS, Ella, for his sake! !"
She hesitated And then-sonhehow
johnny found father and mother
very close together and-he knew
mother had come back to stay.
\ pdBx wAxxAD Will err r.