Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-22

nave been June In tho hearts Of all
men. Yet Freckles scowled darby ~
he came down the trail, and the rum
ming tap. tap which tested the saggins
wire and telegraphed word Of bis com.
ing to his furred and feathered friends
Of the swamp this morning carried the
story Of his discomfort mile ahead Of
him.
Freckles' special pet. . dainty yellow
coated. black sleeved cock goldinch.
had for several days past remained
Oh the wire, the bravest Of all. and
Ereckles, absorbed with the cunning
and beauty Of the tiny fellow, never
guessed that he was being duped, for
the soldnnch was skipping. flirting
and swinging for the express purpose
Of holding his attention that he would
not look up and see a small cradle Of
thistledown and wool perilously near
bis head.
A peculiar movement under small
walnut tree caught his eye. He stop
ped to Investigate. It was an I'M
usually large Luna cocoon, and the
,noth was just bursting the upper end
In its struggles to reach light and air.
Treckles stood and stared.
There's something In there trying
to get out" he muttered. Wonder II
could help it.? Guess best not be
trying. II I hadn't happened along
there wouldn't have been any one to
help 1t, and maybe I'd only be hurting
It. It's-its-oh, skaggany! It's just
being borny'
Freckles gasped with surprise. The
moth cleared the opening and with
great weddings and contortions climb
ed up the tree. He stared, speechless
with amaxement as the moth crept
around q limb and chung to the under
side. There was q great pursy body
almost as large as his thumb and of
the very sn0wiest white that Freckles
had ever seen. There was band Of
delicate lavender across its forehead.
and its feet were Of the same color.
There were antlers like tiny straw
rolored ferns on its. head and on its
shoulders little wet looking flaps no
bigger than his thumb nail. Freckles
saw that those queer little wet look
Ing things were expanding, dropping.
taking on color. and small oval mark
lngs were beginning to show.
The minutes went by. Freckles'
steady gaze never wavered. Without
realizing It he was trembling with
eagerness and anxiety. AS he saw
what was taking place ''It's going to
have wings" he breathed in hushed
wonder. The morning sun fell on the
moth and dried its velvet down. and
the soft mir made It fluffy. The rapid
~ growing wings began to appear to
be OF the most delicate green. with Law
ender fore ribs. transparent, eye shap-
ed markings edged with lines Of red,
tan and black and long, crisp trailers.
Freckles was whispering to himself
for fear Of disturbing the moth. 1t be-
gan a systematic exercise Of raising
and lowering its exquisite wings to
dry them and to establish circulation.
Freckles realized that 1t would soon
be able to spread them and sail away.
His long coming soul sent up its first
shivering cry.
81 don't know what It is. Oh. wish
knew! How I wish I knew! II
must be something grand. It can't be
butterfly. It's away too big. Oh
I wish there was some one to tell me
what It is!'
He climbed on the locust post and
balancing himself by the wire. held a
finger in the line Of the moths advance
up the twig. It unhesitatingly climbed
on. and he stepped back to the path,
holding It up to the light and examin'
ing It closely. Then he held It in the
shade and turned It, gloating over its
markings and beautiful coloring. When
he held the moth back to the limb II
climbed on, still waving those magnif'
cent wings.
my, but I'd like to be staying with
you'll! he said. "But If was to stay
here all day you couldn't get any pref
tier than you are right now and
wouldn't get smart enough to tell what
you are. suppose there's some one
that knows. OF course there is. Mr.
Mclean said there were people that
knew every leaf, bird and flower in the
Limberlost. oh. lord, how I wish YOU'D
| be telling me just this one thing!'
| The goldfnch had ventured back e
the wire. for there was his mate only
few inches above the man creatures
head, and, indeed, he simply must noi
be allowed to look up just them, SO The
brave little fellow rocked on the wire
and piped up, just as he had done ev'
cry day for week, "See me; see meT
"See youl OF course I see you.
| growled Freckles. II see you day aft
er day. and what good Is it doing me;
might see you every morning for
year and then not be able to be telling
any one about 1t. Seen bird-littlt
and yellow az any canary. with black