Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-24

I'M 0p ana 0tA00I08 " l. 49, 49,
EsaWanesak ia fow 49, - coold g.
cutting, h square o.. ! don't know
hut It would b . good idea - ~
him On the gang. sir."
Mclean laughed. "Th0se must b
blue hsrons. Freckles." he said. "And
It doesn't seem possible. but your story
Of the biz black birds sounds Nike gen
uine black vultures. They are com
moa enough in the south. I've seen
them thick about the lumber camps
OF Georgia, but never heard Of any
this far north before. They must be
strays. You have perfectly described
our nearest equivalent to branch Of
tiese birds called In Europe Pharaoh'a
chickehs.~
.sHe was loving her 20" said Free.
kles in hushed voice. Freckles lift.
"a his brave. steady eyes to the boss.
III anybody loved me IKE that. Mr..
Mclean. wouldn't be spending any
time caring how they looked OF
moved. All I'd be thinking Of was
how they felt toward me. II they will
stay III be caring 40 much nfor them
% any chickens have"
The face Of Mclean was study.
'.And now, Freckles. what has been
the trouble all spring? You have done
your work as faithfully as any one
could ask. but can't help seeing that
there IL something wrong. Are you
tired OF your job?"
NJ love IT, answered Freckles. 1T
viii almost break me heart when the
gang begins tearing up the swamp
and soaring away me chickens"
~Then what is the matterw insisted
Mclean.
II think, siF, it's been books Being
among these beautiful things every
day, got SO anxious IKE to be know
Ing and naming them that 1t got to
eating into me and went and made me
near sick when I was well as could
be. OF course learned to read. write
and figure some at school, but there
was nothing there nor In any Of the
city that ever got to see that would
make a fellow even be dreaming of
such interesting things as there are
here. I've seen the parks. but they
amt even beginning to be in it with
Limberlost. IT'S all new and strange
to me. / don't know thing about
any Of it. The bullfrog told me to
find OUT plain as day, and books are
the only way, amt 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 II you have the books. don't
your
II am pretty sure I DO" said Free
klea. If learned all I'd the chance at
m the home. and me schooling was
good as far as It went. Wouldn't let
you go past fourteen. you know. ]
always did me sums perfect, and I
loved me history books. I never could
get me grammar to suit them. They
said it was Just born in me to go
wrong talking. but could knock them
all out singing. ! was always leader
in the home, and once one OF the SUI
perintendents gave me, car fare and let
me go into the city and sing In a boys
choir. The master said ia 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 rally thinking
it is. sir, for I've tried about the line
q bit Of late.
"That and me chickens has been all
the company I've been having. and 1t
will be all I'll want IL can have
books and learn the real names of
things. where they come from and
why they do such interesting things.
It's been fretting me to be shut up
here among all these wonders and not
knowing thing. wanted to ask you
what some books would cost me and
II you'd be having the goodness to get
me the right ones. think I have
enough money"
Freckles handed up his account book,
and the boss studied it gravely.
"You needn't touch your bank &C.
count, Freckles;" he said. 'Ten dol
lars from this months pay will get
you everything you need to start on.