freckles-第8部分

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and　they　do　move　like　a　rocking…horse　loping；　but　they　are　so　big

and　fearless。　　They　have　a　fine　color　for　black　birds；　and　their

feet　and　beaks　seem　so　strong。　　You　never　saw　anything　so　keen　as

their　eyes！　　And　fly？　　Why；　just　think；　sir；　they　must　be　flying

miles　straight　up；　for　they　were　out　of　sight　completely　when　the

feather　fell。　　I　don't　suppose　I've　a　chicken　in　the　swamp　that　can

go　as　close　heaven　as　those　big；　black　fellows；　and　then〃



Freckles'　voice　dragged　and　he　hesitated。



〃Then　what？〃　interestedly　urged　McLean。



〃He　was　loving　her　so；〃　answered　Freckles　in　a　hushed　voice。　　〃I

know　it　looked　awful　funny；　and　I　laughed　and　told　on　him；　but　if

I'd　taken　time　to　think　I　don't　believe　I'd　have　done　it。　　You　see；

I've　seen　such　a　little　bit　of　loving　in　me　life。　　You　easily　can　be

understanding　that　at　the　Home　it　was　every　day　the　old　story　of

neglect　and　desertion。　　Always　people　that　didn't　even　care　enough

for　their　children　to　keep　them；　so　you　see；　sir；　I　had　to　like　him

for　trying　so　hard　to　make　her　know　how　he　loved　her。　　Of　course；

they're　only　birds；　but　if　they　are　caring　for　each　other　like

that；　why；　it's　just　the　same　as　people；　ain't　it？〃



Freckles　lifted　his　brave；　steady　eyes　to　the　Boss。



〃If　anybody　loved　me　like　that；　Mr。　McLean；　I　wouldn't　be　spending

any　time　on　how　they　looked　or　moved。　　All　I'd　be　thinking　of　would

be　how　they　felt　toward　me。　　If　they　will　stay；　I'll　be　caring　as

much　for　them　as　any　chickens　I　have。　　If　I　did　laugh　at　them　I

thought　he　was　just　fine！〃



The　face　of　McLean　was　a　study；　but　the　honest　eyes　of　the　boy　were

so　compelling　that　he　found　himself　answering：　　〃You　are　right；

Freckles。　　He's　a　gentleman；　isn't　he？　　And　the　only　real　chicken

you　have。　　Of　course　he'll　remain！　　The　Limberlost　will　be　paradise

for　his　family。　　And　now；　Freckles；　what　has　been　the　trouble

all　spring？　　You　have　done　your　work　as　faithfully　as　anyone　could

ask；　but　I　can't　help　seeing　that　there　is　something　wrong。　　Are　you

tired　of　your　job？〃



〃I　love　it；〃　answered　Freckles。　　〃It　will　almost　break　me　heart　when　the

gang　comes　and　begins　tearing　up　the　swamp　and　scaring　away　me　chickens。〃



〃Then　what　is　the　trouble？〃　insisted　McLean。



〃I　think；　sir；　it's　been　books；〃　answered　Freckles。　　〃You　see；　I

didn't　realize　it　meself　until　the　bullfrog　told　me　this　morning。　

I　hadn't　ever　even　heard　about　a　place　like　this。　　Anyway；　I　wasn't

understanding　how　it　would　be；　if　I　had。　　Being　among　these

beautiful　things　every　day；　I　got　so　anxious　like　to　be　knowing　and

naming　them；　that　it　got　to　eating　into　me　and　went　and　made　me

near　sick；　when　I　was　well　as　I　could　be。　　Of　course；　I　learned　to

read；　write；　and　figure　some　at　school；　but　there　was　nothing

there；　or　in　any　of　the　city　that　I　ever　got　to　see；　that　would

make　a　fellow　even　be　dreaming　of　such　interesting　things　as　there

are　here。　　I've　seen　the　parksbut　good　Lord；　they　ain't　even

beginning　to　be　in　it　with　the　Limberlost！　　It's　all　new　and　strange

to　me。　　I　don't　know　a　thing　about　any　of　it。　　The　bullfrog　told　me

to　‘find　out；'　plain　as　day；　and　books　are　the　only　way；　ain't　they？〃



〃Of　course；〃　said　McLean；　astonished　at　himself　for　his

heartfelt　relief。　　He　had　not　guessed　until　that　minute　what　it

would　have　meant　to　him　to　have　Freckles　give　up。　　〃You　know

enough　to　study　out　what　you　want　yourself；　if　you　have　the　books；

don't　you？〃



〃I　am　pretty　sure　I　do；〃　said　Freckles。　　〃I　learned　all　I'd　the

chance　at　in　the　Home；　and　me　schooling　was　good　as　far　as　it　went。

Wouldn't　let　you　go　past　fourteen；　you　know。　　I　always　did　me　sums

perfect；　and　loved　me　history　books。　　I　had　them　almost　by　heart。　　I

never　could　get　me　grammar　to　suit　them。　　They　said　it　was　just　born

in　me　to　go　wrong　talking；　and　if　it　hadn't　been　I　suppose　I　would

have　picked　it　up　from　the　other　children；　but　I'd　the　best　voice

of　any　of　them　in　the　Home　or　at　school。　　I　could　knock　them　all

out　singing。　　I　was　always　leader　in　the　Home；　and　once　one　of　the

superintendents　gave　me　carfare　and　let　me　go　into　the　city　and

sing　in　a　boys'　choir。　　The　master　said　I'd　the　swatest　voice　of

them　all　until　it　got　rough　like；　and　then　he　made　me　quit　for

awhile；　but　he　said　it　would　be　coming　back　by　now；　and　I'm　railly

thinking　it　is；　sir；　for　I've　tried　on　the　line　a　bit　of　late　and

it　seems　to　go　smooth　again　and　lots　stronger。　　That　and　me　chickens

have　been　all　the　company　I've　been　having；　and　it　will　be　all　I'll

want　if　I　can　have　some　books　and　learn　the　real　names　of　things；

where　they　come　from；　and　why　they　do　such　interesting　things。　　It's

been　fretting　me　more　than　I　knew　to　be　shut　up　here　among　all

these　wonders　and　not　knowing　a　thing。　　I　wanted　to　ask　you　what

some　books　would　cost　me；　and　if　you'd　be　having　the　goodness　to

get　me　the　right　ones。　　I　think　I　have　enough　money〃



Freckles　offered　his　account…book　and　the　Boss　studied　it　gravely。



〃You　needn't　touch　your　account；　Freckles；〃　he　said。　　〃Ten　dollars

from　this　month's　pay　will　provide　you　everything　you　need　to　start　on。　

I　will　write　a　friend　in　Grand　Rapids　today　to　select　you　the　very

best　and　send　them　at　once。〃



Freckles'　eyes　were　shining。



〃Never　owned　a　book　in　me　life！〃　he　said。　　〃Even　me　schoolbooks　were

never　mine。　　Lord！　　How　I　used　to　wish　I　could　have　just　one　of　them

for　me　very　own！　　Won't　it　be　fun　to　see　me　sawbird　and　me　little

yellow　fellow　looking　at　me　from　the　pages　of　a　book；　and　their

real　names　and　all　about　them　printed　alongside？　　How　long　will　it

be　taking；　sir？〃



〃Ten　days　should　do　it　nicely；〃　said　McLean。　　Then；　seeing　Freckles'

lengthening　face；　he　added：　　〃I'll　have　Duncan　bring　you　a

ten…bushel　store…box　the　next　time　he　goes　to　town。　　He　can　haul　it

to　the　west　entrance　and　set　it　up　wherever　you　want　it。　　You　can

put　in　your　spare　time　filling　it　with　the　specimens　you　find　until

the　books　come；　and　then　you　can　study　out　what　you　have。　　I　suspect

you　could　collect　specimens　that　I　could　send　to　naturalists　in　the

city　and　sell　for　you；　things　like　that　winged　creature；　this　morning。　

I　don't　know　much　in　that　line；　but　it　must　have　been　a　moth；　and

it　might　have　been　rare。　　I've　seen　them　by　the　thousand　in

museums；　and　in　all　nature　I　don't　remember　rarer　coloring　than

their　wings。　　I'll　order　you　a　butterfly…net　and　box　and　show　you

how　scientists　pin　specimens。　　Possibly　you　can　make　a　fine

collection　of　these　swamp　beauties。　　It　will　be　all　right　for　you　to

take　a　pair　of　different　moths　and　butterflies；　but　I　don't　want　to

hear　of　your　killing　any　birds。　　They　are　protected　by　heavy　fines。〃



McLean　rode　away　leaving　Freckles　staring　aghast。　　Then　he　saw　the

point　and　smiled。　　Standing　on　the　trail；　he　twirled　the　feather　and

thought　over　the　morning。



〃Well；　if　life　ain't　getting　to　be　worth　living！〃　he　said　wonderingly。　

〃Biggest　streak　of　luck　I　ever　had！　　‘Bout　time　something　was

coming　my　way；　but　I　wouldn't　ever　thought　anybody　could　strike

such　magnificent　prospects　through　only　a　falling　feather。〃







　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　IV



　　　　　　　Wherein　Freckles　Faces　Trouble　Bravely　and　Opens　the　Way

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　for　New　Experiences



On　Duncan's　return　from　his　next　trip　to　town　there　was　a　big

store…box　loaded　on　the　back　of　his　wagon。　　He　drove　to　the　west

entrance　of　the　swamp；　set　the　box　on　a　stump　that　Freckles　had

selected　in　a　beautiful；　sheltered　place；　and　made　it　secure　on　its

foundations　with　a　tree　at　its　back。



〃It　seems　most　a　pity　to　nail　into　that　tree；〃　said　Duncan。　

〃I　haena　the　time　to　examine　into　the　grain　of　it；　but　it　looks　as

if　it　might　be　a　rare　ane。　　Anyhow；　the　nailin'　winna　hurt　it　deep；

and　havin'　the　case　by　it　will　make　it　safer　if　it　is　a　guid　ane。〃



〃Isn't　it　an　oak？〃　asked　Freckles。



〃Ay；〃　said　Duncan。　　〃It　looks　like　it　might　be　ane　of　thae

fine…grained　white　anes　that　mak'　such　grand　furniture。〃



When　the　body　of　the　case　was　secure；　Duncan　made　a　door　from　the

lid　and　fastened　it　with　hinges。　　He　drove　a　staple；　screwed　on　a

latch；　and　gave　Freckles　a　small　padlockso　that　he　might　fasten

in　his　treasures　safely。　　He　made　a　shelf　at　the　top　for　his　books；

and　last　of　all　covered　the　case　with　oil…cloth。



It　was　the　first　time　in　Freckles'　life　that　anyone　ever　had　done

that　much　for　his　pleasure；　and　it　warmed　his　heart　with　pure　joy。

If　the　interior　of　the　box　already　had　been　covered　with　the　rarest

treasures　of　the　Limberlost　he　could　have　been　no　happier。



When　the　big　teamster　stood　back　to　look　at　his　work　he　laughingly

quoted；　〃‘Neat；　but　no'　gaudy；'　as　McLean　says。　　All　we're；　needing

now　is　a　coat　of　paint　to　make　a　cupboard　that　would　turn　Sarah

green　with　envy。　　Ye'll　find　that　safe　an'　dry；　lad；　an'　that's　all

that's　needed。〃



〃Mr。　Duncan；〃　said　Freckles；　〃I　don't　know　why　you　are　being　so

mighty　good　to　me；　but　if　you　have　any　jobs　at　the　cabin　that　I

could　do　for　you　or　Mrs。　Duncan；　hours　off　the　line；　it　would　make

me　mighty　happy。〃



Duncan　laughed。　　〃Ye　needna　feel　ye　are　obliged　to　me；　lad。　　Ye　mauna

think　I　could　take　a　half…day　off　in　the　best　hauling　season　and　go

to　town　for　boxes　to　rig　up；　and　spend　of　my　little　for　fixtures。〃



〃I　knew　Mr。　McLean　sent　you；〃　said　Freckles；　his　eyes　wide　and

bright　with　happiness。　　〃It's　so　good　of　him。　　How　I　wish　I　could　do

something　that　would　please　him　as　much！〃



〃Why；　Freckles；〃　said　Duncan；　as　he　knelt　and　began　collecting　his

tools；　〃I　canna　see　that　it　will　hurt　ye　to　be　told　that　ye　are

doing　every　day　a　thing　that　pleases　the　Boss　as　much　as　anything

ye　could　do。　　Ye're　being　uncommon　faithful；　lad；　and　honest　as　old

Father　Time。　　McLean　is　trusting　ye　as　he　would　his　own　flesh　and　blood。〃



〃Oh；　Duncan！〃　cried　the　happy　boy。　　〃Are　you　sure？〃



〃Why　I　know；〃　answered　Dunc