Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18

BY
Gene SGraGG@m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY.
PAGE h co.
CHAPTER III.
4 FEATnEn FALLS.

FEATHER FALLS.
Ia HE sounds that had at 1rs
struck cold fear into Freckles
Ill soul he now knew had left OF
49, wing and silent foot at th,
approach Of winter. Az flock afte'
Hock Of the birds returned aud b,
recognized the old echoes reawakenint
ne found to his surprise that he hat
been lonely for them and was hailini
their return with great Joy He wa.
possessed Of an overpowering desire
to know what they were. to learr
where they had been and whether they
would make friends with him as the
winter birds had done. and il they did
would they be as fckIe? For with the
running sap. creeping worm and wing
ing bug most Of Freckles' chickens
had deserted him. entered the swamp
and Toasted to such u state Of plethora
on Its store that they cared little for
his supply, so that in the days OF mat
ing and nest building the boy was de-
serted.
The yearly resurrection Of the Linn
berlost Is mighty revival. Freckles
stood back and watched with awe and
envy the gradual reclothing and re-
populating Of the swamp. Keen eyed
and alert through danger and loneli-
ness. he noted every stage Of develop
ment from the first piping frog and I'M
sheathing bud to full LEAKAGE and the
return of the last emigrant.
The knowledge Of his complete lone
illness and utter insignifcance was
hourly thrust upon him. He brooded
and fretted until he was in a fever.
and yet he never guessed the cause
He was filled with vast impotence
and a longing, that would not much
further be denied.
Il was June by the zodiac. June by
the Limberlost. and by every delight
of a newly resurrected season 1t should
have been June in The hearts Of oil
men. Yet Freckles scowled dnrkly as
he came down the trail. and the run
ming tap. tap which tested the sagging
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. Il dainty yellow
coated. black sleeved cock goldtinch.
had for several days past remained
ON 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 goldhnch was skipping. flirting
and swinging for the express purpose
Of holding his attention that he would
not look up and see small cradle of
thistledOwn and wool perilOus!y near
his head.
A peculiar movement under a small
walnut tree caught his eye. He stop
ped to Investigate II was an I'M
usually large Luna cocoon. and the
moth was Just bursting the upper end
In it's struggles to reach light ard air.
Freckles stood and stared.
There's something in there trying
to get out" he muttered. Wonder If
could help it: Guess | best not be
trying. If hadn't happened along
there wouldn't have been any one to
help 1t. and maybe I'd only be hurting
II. It's-it's-oh. skaggany! It's just
being born
Freckles gasped with surprise. The
moth cleared the opening and with
great Weddings and contortions climb
ed up the tree. He stared. speechless
with Amusement as the moth crept
around limb and chung to the under
side. There was great pursy body
almost as large as his thumb and Of
the very snowiest white that Treciles
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
colored ferns on it's head and on its
shoulders little wet looking flaps no
bigger than his thumb nail. Treckles
saw that those queer little wet look
ing things were expanding. dropping.
taking on color. and small oval mark
ings were beginning to show.
The minutes went by. Freckles'
steady gaze never wavered. Without
realizing it he was trembling with
eagerness and anxiety, Az he saw
what was taking place ITS going to
have wings" he breathed in hushed
wonder. The morning sun fell on the
moth and dried its velvet down. and
the soft air made it fluffy. The rapid.
~ growing wings began to appear to
be 0f the most delicate green. with Law.
ender fore ribs. transparent. eye shnp-
ed markings edged with lines of red.
tan and black and long. crisp trailers.
Freclsles was whispering to himself
for fear Of disturbing the moth. 1t be
gan a systematic exercise of raising
and lowering It's exquisite wings to
dry them and to establish circulation.
Freckles realized that 1t would soon
be aba to spread them and sail AWAY.
His long coming soul sent up its first
shivering cry.
II don't know what It is. Oh. ! wish
! knew! Row wish I knew. 1t
must be something grand. It can't be
. butterfly. It's away too big. Oh,
wish there was some one to tell me
what it isw
He climbed on tne locust post and,
balancing himself BY the wire. held II
finger In the line Of the moths advance
up the rw1g. It unhesita tingly climbed
on. and he stepped back TO the path.
holding n M To the Hight and exnmin-
ing Il closely. Then he held It In the
shnAA and fl,fDod ~ vtoot,rv ovor tts