Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-20

c0at they were l0Qvln8 ZOE lNCA u IL
But he could not stop them. Day
after day docks gathered and depart
cd. BY the time the nrst snow whit
ened his trail about the Limberlost
there wero left only the little black
and white juncos, the sapsuckers. vel.
lowhammers, few patriarchs among
tho flaming cardinals, the bluejays.
the crows and tho quail.
Then Freckles began his wizard
work. He cleared q space OF swale.
and twice a day he spread 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 Freckles' back was turned to
attack Ills provisions. In few weeks
they few toward the clearing to meet
him. BY the bitter weather Of Jan
uary they came halfway to the cabin
every morning and huttered about him
like doves oil 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 Freckles added to wheat and
crumbs every scrap Of refuse food he
could find about the cabin. One morn
Ing. coming to his feeding ground un
usually early, he found gorgeous
cardinal and a rabbit socially nibblinG
n 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. 70.
the squirrels. in the effort to add them
to his family. Soon he had them com
ing-red. gray and black-and he be-
came flied with a vast tmpatience
that be 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
a scrap Of paper that represented the
amount he made a 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 1t gave to him a
sense Of freedom and power to feel
that 1t was there-it was his and he
could have 1t when he chose.
That winter held the first hours Of
real happiness in Freckles' life. He
was free. He was doing a mans work
faithfully through every rigor Of rain.
snow and blizzard. He was gathering
q wonderful strength of body, paying
his way and saving money.
Mrs. Duncan had hot drink ready
for him when he came in from a freez-
ing day on the trail. knitted = heavy
mitten for, his left hand. devised q
way to sew up and pad the right sleeve
which protected the manned arm in
bitter weather, patched his clothing
and saved kitchen scraps for his birds.
not because she either knew or cared
| rap about them. but because she her
self was near enough the swamp to be
touched by It's utter loneliness. When
Duncan laughed at her for this she re-
torted: "My God. mamie. II Freckles
hadna the birds and the beasts he
would be always alone. 1t was never
meant for a human being to be "a soil.
tary."
The next morning Duncan gave an
ear Of corn he was Smelling to- Free
kles and told him to carry 1t to his wild
chickens in the Limberlost. Freckles
laughed delightedly.
''Me chickens!' he said. "Why didn't
ever think Of that before? OF course
they are! They are just little brightly
colored cocks and hens. But what
would you say to me wild chickens be-
ing a good deal tanner than yours here
in your yard?''
"Hoot, lad" cried Duncan.
make yours light on your head and
eat out Of your hands and pockets"
challenged Freckles.
eco tell your fairy tales to the wee
peoplei They're juist brash on be-
levin things" said Duncan.
II dare you to come see" retorted
Freckles.
Take yer said Duncan. "1f re
make just ane bird LIGHT on your held
or eat frae your hand ye are free to
help yourself to my corncrib and wheat
bin the rest Of the winter"
After that Freckles always spoke of
the birds as his chickens. The next
Sabbath Duncan. with his wife and
children, followed E'reckles to the
swamp.
Freckles' chickens were awaiting
him at the edge Of the clearing. They
cut the frosty air about his head into
curves and circles of crimson, blue and
black. They chased each other from
Freckles aud swept 80 closely them
selves that they brushed him with their
outspreac wings.
At their feeding ground Freckles set
down his old pail of.scraps and swept
the snow from small level space with
q broom 1mprovised from twigs. As
soon as his back was turned the birds
clustered over the food, snatching
scraps to carry to the nearest bushes.
Several Of the boldest, a big crow and
q couple Of jays. settled on the rim
and Toasted ut leisure. while cardi-
nal that hesitated to venture fumed
and scolded from twig overhead.
Then Freckles scattered his store.
At once the ground resembled the
spread mantle Of Montezuma, except