freckles-第4部分

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sapsuckers；　yellow…hammers；　a　few　patriarchs　among　the　flaming

cardinals；　the　blue　jays；　the　crows；　and　the　quail。



Then　Freckles　began　his　wizard　work。　　He　cleared　a　space　of　swale；

and　twice　a　day　he　spread　a　birds'　banquet。　　By　the　middle　of

December　the　strong　winds　of　winter　had　beaten　most　of　the　seed

from　the　grass　and　bushes。　　The　snow　fell；　covering　the　swamp；　and

food　was　very　scarce　and　difficult　to　find。　　The　birds　scarcely

waited　until　Freckles'　back　was　turned　to　attack　his　provisions。　

In　a　few　weeks　they　flew　toward　the　clearing　to　meet　him。　　During　the

bitter　weather　of　January　they　came　halfway　to　the　cabin　every

morning；　and　fluttered　around　him　as　doves　all　the　way　to　the

feeding…ground。　　Before　February　they　were　so　accustomed　to　him；　and

so　hunger…driven；　that　they　would　perch　on　his　head　and　shoulders；

and　the　saucy　jays　would　try　to　pry　into　his　pockets。



Then　Freckles　added　to　wheat　and　crumbs；　every　scrap　of　refuse　food

he　could　find　at　the　cabin。　　He　carried　to　his　pets　the　parings　of

apples；　turnips；　potatoes；　stray　cabbage…leaves；　and　carrots；　and

tied　to　the　bushes　meat…bones　having　scraps　of　fat　and　gristle。　

One　morning；　coming　to　his　feeding…ground　unusually　early；　he　found

a　gorgeous　cardinal　and　a　rabbit　side　by　side　sociably　nibbling　a

cabbage…leaf；　and　that　instantly　gave　to　him　the　idea　of　cracking

nuts；　from　the　store　he　had　gathered　for　Duncan's　children；　for　the

squirrels；　in　the　effort　to　add　them　to　his　family。　　Soon　he　had

them　comingred；　gray；　and　black；　then　he　became　filled　with　a

vast　impatience　that　he　did　not　know　their　names　or　habits。



So　the　winter　passed。　　Every　week　McLean　rode　to　the　Limberlost；

never　on　the　same　day　or　at　the　same　hour。　　Always　he　found　Freckles

at　his　work；　faithful　and　brave；　no　matter　how　severe　the　weather。



The　boy's　earnings　constituted　his　first　money；　and　when　the　Boss

explained　to　him　that　he　could　leave　them　safe　at　a　bank　and　carry

away　a　scrap　of　paper　that　represented　the　amount；　he　went　straight

on　every　payday　and　made　his　deposit；　keeping　out　barely　what　was

necessary　for　his　board　and　clothing。　　What　he　wanted　to　do　with　his

money　he　did　not　know；　but　it　gave　to　him　a　sense　of　freedom　and

power　to　feel　that　it　was　thereit　was　his　and　he　could　have　it

when　he　chose。　　In　imitation　of　McLean；　he　bought　a　small　pocket

account…book；　in　which　he　carefully　set　down　every　dollar　he　earned

and　every　penny　he　spent。　　As　his　expenses　were　small　and　the　Boss

paid　him　generously；　it　was　astonishing　how　his　little　hoard　grew。



That　winter　held　the　first　hours　of　real　happiness　in　Freckles'　life。　

He　was　free。　　He　was　doing　a　man's　work　faithfully；　through

every　rigor　of　rain；　snow；　and　blizzard。　　He　was　gathering　a

wonderful　strength　of　body；　paying　his　way；　and　saving　money。　

Every　man　of　the　gang　and　of　that　locality　knew　that　he　was　under

the　protection　of　McLean；　who　was　a　power；　this　had　the　effect　of

smoothing　Freckles'　path　in　many　directions。



Mrs。　Duncan　showed　him　that　individual　kindness　for　which　his

hungry　heart　was　longing。　　She　had　a　hot　drink　ready　for　him　when　he

came　from　a　freezing　day　on　the　trail。　　She　knit　him　a　heavy　mitten

for　his　left　hand；　and　devised　a　way　to　sew　and　pad　the　right

sleeve　that　protected　the　maimed　arm　in　bitter　weather。　　She　patched

his　clothingfrequently　torn　by　the　wireand　saved　kitchen　scraps

for　his　birds；　not　because　she　either　knew　or　cared　anything　about

them；　but　because　she　herself　was　close　enough　to　the　swamp　to　be

touched　by　its　utter　loneliness。　　When　Duncan　laughed　at　her　for

this；　she　retorted：　　〃My　God；　mannie；　if　Freckles　hadna　the　birds

and　the　beasts　he　would　be　always　alone。　　It　was　never　meant　for　a

human　being　to　be　so　solitary。　　He'd　get　touched　in　the　head　if　he

hadna　them　to　think　for　and　to　talk　to。〃



〃How　much　answer　do　ye　think　he　gets　to　his　talkin'；　lass？〃

laughed　Duncan。



〃He　gets　the　answer　that　keeps　the　eye　bright；　the　heart　happy；

and　the　feet　walking　faithful　the　rough　path　he's　set　them　in；〃

answered　Mrs。　Duncan　earnestly。



Duncan　walked　away　appearing　very　thoughtful。　　The　next　morning

he　gave　an　ear　from　the　corn　he　was　shelling　for　his　chickens　to

Freckles；　and　told　him　to　carry　it　to　his　wild　chickens　in

the　Limberlost。　　Freckles　laughed　delightedly。



〃Me　chickens！〃　he　said。　　〃Why　didn't　I　ever　think　of　that　before？　

Of　course　they　are！　　They　are　just　little；　brightly　colored　cocks

and　hens！　　But　‘wild'　is　no　good。　　What　would　you　say　to　me　‘wild

chickens'　being　a　good　deal　tamer　than　yours　here　in　your　yard？〃



〃Hoot；　lad！〃　cried　Duncan。



〃Make　yours　light　on　your　head　and　eat　out　of　your　hands　and

pockets；〃　challenged　Freckles。



〃Go　and　tell　your　fairy　tales　to　the　wee　people！　　They're　juist

brash　on　believin'　things；〃　said　Duncan。　　〃Ye　canna　invent　any

story　too　big　to　stop　them　from　callin'　for　a　bigger。〃



〃I　dare　you　to　come　see！〃　retorted　Freckles。



〃Take　ye！〃　said　Duncan。　　〃If　ye　make　juist　ane　bird　licht　on　your

heid　or　eat　frae　your　hand；　ye　are　free　to　help　yoursel'　to　my

corn…crib　and　wheat　bin　the　rest　of　the　winter。〃



Freckles　sprang　in　air　and　howled　in　glee。



〃Oh；　Duncan！　　You're　too；　aisy〃　he　cried。　　〃When　will　you　come？〃



〃I'll　come　next　Sabbath；〃　said　Duncan。　　〃And　I'll　believe　the　birds　of

the　Limberlost　are　tame　as　barnyard　fowl　when　I　see　it；　and　no　sooner！〃



After　that　Freckles　always　spoke　of　the　birds　as　his　chickens；　and

the　Duncans　followed　his　example。　　The　very　next　Sabbath；　Duncan；

with　his　wife　and　children；　followed　Freckles　to　the　swamp。　

They　saw　a　sight　so　wonderful　it　will　keep　them　talking　all　the

remainder　of　their　lives；　and　make　them　unfailing　friends　of　all

the　birds。



Freckles'　chickens　were　awaiting　him　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing。　

They　cut　the　frosty　air　around　his　head　into　curves　and　circles　of

crimson；　blue；　and　black。　　They　chased　each　other　from　Freckles；　and

swept　so　closely　themselves　that　they　brushed　him　with　their

outspread　wings。



At　their　feeding…ground　Freckles　set　down　his　old　pail　of　scraps

and　swept　the　snow　from　a　small　level　space　with　a　broom　improvised

of　twigs。　　As　soon　as　his　back　was　turned；　the　birds　clustered　over

the　food；　snatching　scraps　to　carry　to　the　nearest　bushes。　　Several　of

the　boldest；　a　big　crow　and　a　couple　of　jays；　settled　on　the　rim　and

feasted　at　leisure；　while　a　cardinal；　that　hesitated　to　venture；

fumed　and　scolded　from　a　twig　overhead。



Then　Freckles　scattered　his　store。　　At　once　the　ground　resembled　the

spread　mantle　of　Montezuma；　except　that　this　mass　of　gaily　colored

feathers　was　on　the　backs　of　living　birds。　　While　they　feasted；

Duncan　gripped　his　wife's　arm　and　stared　in　astonishment；　for　from

the　bushes　and　dry　grass；　with　gentle　cheeping　and　queer；　throaty

chatter；　as　if　to　encourage　each　other；　came　flocks　of　quail。　

Before　anyone　saw　it　arrive；　a　big　gray　rabbit　sat　in　the　midst　of

the　feast；　contentedly　gnawing　a　cabbage…leaf。



〃Weel；　I　be　drawed　on！〃　came　Mrs。　Duncan's　tense　whisper。



〃Shu…shu；〃　cautioned　Duncan。



Lastly　Freckles　removed　his　cap。　　He　began　filling　it　with　handfuls

of　wheat　from　his　pockets。　　In　a　swarm　the　grain…eaters　arose　around

him　as　a　flock　of　tame　pigeons。　　They　perched　on　his　arms　and　the

cap；　and　in　the　stress　of　hunger；　forgetting　all　caution；　a

brilliant　cock　cardinal　and　an　equally　gaudy　jay　fought　for　a

perching…place　on　his　head。



〃Weel；　I'm　beat；〃　muttered　Duncan；　forgetting　the　silence　imposed

on　his　wife。　　〃I'll　hae　to　give　in。　　‘Seein'　is　believin'。　　A　man

wad　hae　to　see　that　to　believe　it。　　We　mauna　let　the　Boss　miss　that

sight；　for　it's　a　chance　will　no　likely　come　twice　in　a　life。　

Everything　is　snowed　under　and　thae　craturs　near　starved；　but

trustin'　Freckles　that　complete　they　are　tamer　than　our　chickens。　

Look　hard；　bairns！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Ye　winna　see　the　like　o'　yon

again；　while　God　lets　ye　live。　　Notice　their　color　against　the　ice

and　snow；　and　the　pretty　skippin'　ways　of　them！　　And　spunky！　

Weel；　I'm　heat　fair！〃



Freckles　emptied　his　cap；　turned　his　pockets　and　scattered　his

last　grain。　　Then　he　waved　his　watching　friends　good…bye　and

started　down　the　timber…line。



A　week　later；　Duncan　and　Freckles　arose　from　breakfast　to　face　the

bitterest　morning　of　the　winter。　　When　Freckles；　warmly　capped　and

gloved；　stepped　to　the　corner　of　the　kitchen　for　his　scrap…pail；　he

found　a　big　pan　of　steaming　boiled　wheat　on　the　top　of　it。　　He　wheeled

to　Mrs。　Duncan　with　a　shining　face。



〃Were　you　fixing　this　warm　food　for　me　chickens　or　yours？〃　he　asked。



〃It's　for　yours；　Freckles；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　afeared　this　cold

weather　they　wadna　lay　good　without　a　warm　bite　now　and　then。〃



Duncan　laughed　as　he　stepped　to　the　other　room　for　his　pipe；　but

Freckles　faced　Mrs。　Duncan　with　a　trace　of　every　pang　of　starved

mother…hunger　he　ever　had　suffered　written　large　on　his　homely；

splotched；　narrow　features。



〃Oh；　how　I　wish　you　were　my　mother！〃　he　cried。



Mrs。　Duncan　attempted　an　echo　of　her　husband's　laugh。



〃Lord　love　the　lad！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　Freckles；　are　ye　no

bright　enough　to　learn　without　being　taught　by　a　woman　that　I　am

your　mither？　　If　a　great　man　like　yoursel'　dinna　ken　that；　learn　it

now　and　ne'er　forget　it。　　Ance　a　woman　is　the　wife　of　any　man；　she

becomes　wife　to　all　men　for　having　had　the　wifely　experience　she　kens！　

Ance　a　man…child　has　beaten　his　way　to　life　under　the　heart　of　a

woman；　she　is　mither　to　all　men；　for　the　hearts　of　mithers　are

everywhere　the　same。　　Bless　ye；　laddie；　I　am　your　mither！〃



She　tucked　the　coarse　scarf　she　had　knit　for　him　closer　over　his

chest　and　pulled　his　cap　lower　over　his　ears；　but　Freckles；

whipping　it　off　and　holding　it　under　his　arm；　caught　her　rough；

reddened　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips　in　a　long　kiss。　　Then　he

hurried　away　to　hide　the