The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-20

up no one knew it. All these things
in so far us he guessed them Duncan.
WHO had been set to watch the first
weeks of Freckles' work, carried to the
boss at the south camp. but the inner
most, exquisite torture Of the thing the
big Scotchman never guessed. and Nc.
Lean with his finer perceptions came
only little nearer.
| After few weeks. when Ereck,cs
found that he was still living, that he
had home and the very first money
he had ever possessed was safe in his
pockets, he began to grow proud. He
was gradually developing the fearless
ness that men ever acquire Of dangers
, to which they are hourly accustomed.
His heart seemed to he in his mouth
when his first RATHER disputed the
trail with him, but he mustered cour-
age and let drive at it with his club
After it's head had been crushed he
cut off its rattles to show Duncan
With the mastery of his first snake
his greatest fear of them was gone
Then he began to realize that with
the abundance Of food in the swamp
flesh hunters would not come out on
the trail and attack him. and he had
his revolver for defense if they did.
He soon learned to laugh ut the tloppy
birds that made horrible noises One
day watching from behind tree he
saw a crane soemnly performing Il
| few measures Of belated nuptial
song and dance with his mate. Re
alizing that it was intended in tender
ness, no matter how it appeared, the
lonely. starved heart of the boy went
out to them in sympathy.
| When day after day the only thing
that relieved his utter loneliness was
the companionship OF the birds and
beasts of the swamp Freckles turned
to them for friendship. He began by
instinctively protecting the weak and
| helpless. He was astOnished at the
quickness with which they became ac-
customed to him once they learned
| that he was not 1: hunter and that the
| club he carried was used more fire.
quently for their benefit than his own.
He could scarcely believe what he saw.
When black frosts began stripping
the Limberlost he watched the depart
ing troops of his friends with dismay.
lie made special efforts toward friend
illness with the hope that he could in
duce some of them to stay. IL was
then that he conceived the idea of
carrying food to the birds, for he saw
that they were leaving for lack OF it.
But he could not stop them. Day
after day flocks gathered and depart
ed. BY the time the first snow whit
ened his trail about the Limberlost
there were left only the little black
and white juncOs, the sapsuckers. yell
lowhammcrs. a few patriarchs among
the flaming cardinals, the bluejays.
the crows and the quail.
Then Freckes began his wizard
work. 1e cleared Il space of swale.
and twice a day he spread II 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
hard to find. The birds scarcely wait
ed until Frecklcs' back was turned to
attack his provisions. In Il few weeks
they flew toward the clearing to meet
him. BY the bitter weather of Jan
uary they came halfway to the cabin
every morning and iluttered about him
like doves all the way to the feeding
ground. BY February they would
perch on his head and shoulders, and
the saucy jays would try to pry into
his pockets.
Then Frcckles added to wheat and
crumbs every scrap of refuse food he
could find about the cabin. One morn
ing, coming to his feeding ground UNI
usually early, he found gorgeous
cardinal and rabbit socially nibbling
a cabbage leaf side by side, 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
ing-red, gray and black-and he be
came filled with a vast Impotence
that he did not know their names nor
habits.
| So the winter passed. Every week
| Mclean rode over to the Limberlost,
never on the same day nor at the same
hour. The boys earnings constituted
his first money. and when the boss ex-
planned to him that he could leave
them safe at bank and carry away
scrap of paper that represented the
amount he made deposit on every
pay day, 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
sense Of freedom and power to feel
that it was there-it was his and he
could have it when he chose.
That winter held the first hours Of
real happiness In Freckles' life. He
was free. He was doing mans work
faithfully through every rigor of rain.
snow and blizzard. He was gathering
wonderful strength Of body, paying
his way and saving money.
| Mrs Duncan had n hot drink ready