The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-06-27

6e OF the most deIlcafe green, With Law
ender fore ribs, transparent. eye shnp-
ed markings edged with lines OF red
tan and black and long. crisp trailers.
Frecklcs was whispering to himself
FOR fear OF disturbing the moth. IL be.
gan n systematic exercise Of raising
and lowering its exquisite wings TO
dry them and 10 establish circulation.
Frecklea realized that II would soon
he able to spread them and sail away.
HE long coming soul sent mp Its hrst
shiverlng cry.
81 don't know what II IL. oh, / wish
I knewi How wish | knewl IL
must be something grand. II can't be
a butterfly. It's away too big. Oh,
wish there was some one TO tell me
what II isr'
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 II unhesltatlngly climbed
on, and he stepped back to the path.
holding II up TO the light and examin-
ing II closely. Then he held II In the
shade and turned II, gloating over Its
markings and beautiful coloring When
he held the moth back TO the limb II
climbed on. still waving those magnifi'
cent wings.
"My. but I'd like TO be staying with
your he said. "But II I was to stay
here all day you couldn't get any pref
tier than you are right now and l
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 nower In the
ILmberlost. oh. lord. how wish you'd
be telling me Just this one thingr'
The goldfnch had ventured back 10
the wire. for there was his mate only
a few inches above the man creatures
head. aud. indeed. he simply must not
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 a week, See me; see mer'
"See you'll OF course see you"
growled Freckles. IL see you day aft
or day. and what good Is II doing me
I might see you every morning for q
year and then not be able TO be telling
any one about IT, Seen a bird-little
and yellow as any canary. with black
silk wings That's as far as I'd get.
What you doing here anyway Have
you mater what's your manner See
your reckon l see you. but l might
as well be blind for any good It's doing
mer'
Freckies impatiently struck the wire.
With a screech Of fear the goldnnch
fed precipitately. His mate tore from
OF the nest with a whirr. Freckles
looked up and saw II.
"O-hor' he cried. 80 that's what
you are doing here! You have a wife"
Freckles climbed up to examine the
neat. tiny cradle and Its contents. The
hen darted az him In frenzy. Now,
where do you come inr' he demanded
when he saw that she was not like
the goldnnch.
"You be clearing out Of here! This
Is none OF your fry. This IL the nest
OF me little yellow friend Of the wire,
and you shan't be touching Il. Don't
blame you for wanting to see though.
My. but it's a fine nest and beauties Of
eggs. VIII you be keeping away or
will Ore this stick at your
Freckles dropped back to the trail.
The hen darted 10 the nest and settled
on II with a tender. coddling move
ment. He Of the yellow coat flew TO
the edge TO make sure that everything
was right.
"well, I'll be switchedr' muttercd
Freckles. "If that Amt both their
nest! And he's yellow and she's green,
or she's yellow and he's green. OF
course I don't know. and | haven't
any way 10 find out. but It's plain as
the nose on your face that they are
both ready 10 be lighting for that nest.
so OF course they belong. Don't that
beat you? Say. that's what's been
sticking me for all OF these two weeks
on that grass nest In the thorn tree
down the line. One day blueblrd
u ttlNluks anu ~ ~ h'
next day a brown bird Is on, and ]
chase Il or because the nest Is blues.
Next day the brown bird Is on again,
and let her be because | think II
must DO hers. Next day, be golly,
blues on again. and OF sent her be
cause It's browns, and now bet my
hat it's both their nest. and I've only
been bothering them and making a big
fool OF meself"
Freckles plodded on down the trail,
scowling blackly and viciously spang
ing the wire. At the finches' nest he
left the line and peered into the thorn
tree There was no bird brooding. lie
pressed closer TO take peep at the
snowy. spotless little eggs he had
found so beautiful. and at the slight
noise up Jared four tiny baby heads
with wide open mouths and hunger
cries. Freckles stepped back. The
brown bird lit on the edge and closed
one cavity with wlggling green
uorp and NOT tua Minutes latqr the