Mary Martha by J. E. McDaniel

When we moved to Montrose, Co our next door neighbors were two brothers George and Ebon McDaniel. They were older men both at or near retirement. I know they put up with a lot from Tom and I and the other boys in the neighborhood. Once Tom and I nearly burned down their house by setting the lot next door on fire. They were like grandparents to us. We could go there and get candy (white & pink peppermint disks) and George would let us hang around when he was working in his workshop or chopping wood. George died right before we moved to California and Ebon died a couple of years later. I always thought Ebon’s name was Edmond, but I have a little typed story he wrote about Mary that identifies him as J. E. McDaniel ("Ebon"). So here is the story.

At the time of which I write Mary Martha was the three and a half year old daughter of our next door neighbor, Royal Rutherford, principal of the high school. She is now six.

She came quickly across the porch to the kitchen door in which I stood. Her face was flushed. She was angry. Her little brown eyes were flashing. She looked up at me and said emphatically,
"I like my papa, but I do not like my mama."

"Mary Martha," I said, "You know you like your mama."

She replied more emphatically, "I do not like my mama."

Pointing I said, "Who gave you those nice white shoes."

She looked down at her little feet, and without raising her head she saidin a low almost inaudible voice, "My mama."

"Who gave you that beautiful dress?"

She looked and smoothed the dress with her hand. Her face brightened and she said firmly, "My mama."

"And who put that pretty red ribbon in your hair?"

She put her hand to the bow, smiles covered her face, and she said enthusiastically, "My mama."

"Now," I said, "You like your mama, don’t you?’

She nodded "Yes."

She turned about and, still smiling, ran away to her home and her mama.

"…….of such is the kingdom……."

May1,1952 J. E. McDaniel ("Ebon")