Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-05-16

tame from Freckles' tr1parentroou.
and SO plump and sleek that they were
quite rs beautiful as their elders. even
It in many cases they lacked their
brilliant plumage. There were chubby
little groundhogs scudding along the
trail. There were cunning baby coons
and opossums peeping from hollow
logs and trees. Young muskrats fol-
lowed their parents across the lagoons.
If you could come upon a family Of
foxes that had not yet disbanded and
see the young playing with a wild
ducks carcass that their mother had
brought and note the pride and sat-
isfaction in her eyes as she lay at one
side guarding them it would be a
picture not to be. forgotten. Freckles
never tired Of studying the devotion
Of a fox mother to her babies.
The angel was wild about the baby
rabbits and squirrels. Earlier in the
season, when the young were still
very small. it had so happened that
at times Freckles could give into her
hands one Of these little ones. Then
it was pure joy to stand back and
watch her heaving breast, flushed
cheek and shining eyes. Hers were
such lovely eyes. They were forever
changing. Now sparkling and dark
ling with wit. now humid with SYM
patty. now burning with the fire of
courage. now taking On strength of
color with ambition. now flashing in
%dignantly at the abuse of any creature.
She had carried several Of the squirrel
and bunny babies home and had the
conservatory Uttered with them. Her
care of them was perfect.
Brown butterfly time had come. The
outer edge Of the swale was filed with
milkweed and other plants beloved OF
them. and the air was golden with the
flashing satin wings of the monarch,
viceroy and argynnis. They outnum'
bered those Of any other color three
to one.
Among the birds it really seemed as
# the little yellow fellows were in The
pr%eponderance. At least they were
until the red winged blackbirds an6
bobolinks that had nested on the up
land came swarming by hundreds fol
these last few weeks before migration
Never was there a finer feast spread
for the birds. The grasses We're fille6
with seeds; so. too, were weeds OF
every variety. Fall berries were ripe
Wild grapes and black haws were
ready.
They seemed to feel the new reign Of
peace and fullness most Of all. AS fol
hunting. they didn't ever have to hunt
for themselves these days, for the
bounty now being spread before Little
Chicken every day was more than he
could master, and he was glad to have
his parents come down and feast witt
him.
He was a fine. overgrown fellow. an6
his wings. with quilts of jetty black
cleaning with bronze. were so strong
they almost lifted his body. The funny
little hops. springs and sidewise
bounds he gave set F'reckles and thu
angel, hidden out in the swamp watch
ing him. into smothered chuckles o:
delight.
Sometimes he fell to coquetting will
himself, and that was the funnies
thing Of all. for he turned his head up
down, from side to side, and drew il
his chin with prinky little jerks an(
tits. He would stretch his neck
throw up his head. turn it to one side
and enthusiastically smirk. the mos
complacent and self satisfied smirl
that any one eve saw on the face Of {
bird. 1t was so comical that Freckles
and the angel told the Bird Woman O,
It one day.
When she finished her work on Little
chicken she left them the camera al
ready for use. telling them they nigh
hide back in the bushes and watch
II Little Chicken came out and truly
smirked and they could squeeze th'
bulb at just the proper moment tt
snap him she would be more than de
Lighted
Freckles and the angel quietly curl
ed down beside a log and with eager
eyes and Softest breathing patientl!
waited. They were becoming anxious
for the light would soon be gone ant
they had so wanted to try for The
picture. At last Little Chicken liftec
his head. opened his beak and gapeo
widely. He dozed a minute or two
more. The angel said that was hi!
beauty sleep. Then he laZily gape(
again and stood up stretching anG
yawning. He ambled l%eisurely dow1
toward the gateway. and the ange
said. Nov. we may have a chance
at last
Il do hope So" shivered Freckles.
With one accord they rose to theil
knees and trained their eyes on the
mouth Of the log. The light was full
and strong. Little Chicken prospecteG
again with no results. He dressed his
plumage. polished his beak. and whe1
he felt fine and in full toilet he bega1
to flirt with himself. Freckles' eyes
snapped and his breath sucked be
tween his clenched teeth.
Hes going to do it." whispered the
angel.
Little Chicken nodded daintily anC