Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-28

M and how had he transplanted
IH such ferns7 As Mclean turned
w from them he stopped sudden
". He had reached the door Of the
cathedral. That which Freckles had
attempted would have been patent to
any one. What had been in the heart
of the shy. silent boy when he had
! found that long. dim stretch Of forest.
! decorated its entrance. cleared and
smoothed its aisle and carpeted its al
tar? What veriest work Of God was in
these mighty living pillars and the
arched dome Of green! How like stain.
ed cathedral windows were the long
openings between the trees. filled with
riffs of blue. rays Of gold and the shift.
ing emerald Of leaves! Where could
be found mosaics to match this aisle
paved with living color and glowing
| lights? Was Freckles devout Chris
tan and did he worship here? Or was
he an untaught heather and down this
vista of enhancing loveliness did Pan
come piping and dryads. nymphs and
| fairies dance for him?
Who can fathom the heart Of boy
Mclean had been thinking Of Freckles
as a creature Of answering honesty.
courage and faithfu.h->S. here was
evidence of a heart aching for beauty
art. companionship. worship. II was
writ large all over the floor. walls ana
furnishing Of that little Limberlost
clearing.
When Duncan came Mclean told him
the story of the fight. and they laughed
until they cried. Then they started
around the line in search Of the tree.
Said Duncan, Now the boy Is In for
sore trouble!'
81 hope not" answered Mclean.
you never in all your life saw cur
whipped so completely. He won't
rome back for the repetition of the
chorus. We can surely find the tree.
II we can't Freckles can. | will bring
enough of the gang to take 1t out AT
once. That will insure peace for q
time at least. and am hoping that IN
n month more the whole gang can be
moved here. 1t will soon be fall. and
then. IL he will 20. intend to seno
Freckles to my mother to be educated
With his quickness Of mind and booy
and a few years good help he can oo
anything. Why. Duncan. I'd give
hundred dollar bill If you could nave
been here and seen for yourself"
Locating the tree was an easy tass
because it was so we'll Identified
When the rumble Of the lumber wag
ons passing the cabin on the way u
the swamp wukened Freckles mex
morning he sprang up and was sool
following them. The tree was giah
maple and so precious that they al
most dug 1t out by the roots.
Mclean had told Freckles to ride OF
a section OF the maple with him. bu
now the boy begged to go into tn
swamp with Duncan.
81 don't see why you want to 60,
said Mclean. Il have no business q
let you out today at ALL"
ITS me chickens. SIR" answered
Freckles.
Freckles hurried into the swamp
He was some little distance behind
but he could still see the men. Befor
he overlook them they had turne'
from the west road and had entere'
the swamp toward the east. The un
derbr,,sh was almost impenetrable. A
they plunged into 1t great black Dir
swept over their heads.
! Freckles danced wildly. IT'S ID
chickens. Oh. it's me chickens!' a
shouted. "Oh, Duncan. come QUICK
You've found the nest Of me preciou
chIckensr'
Duncan hurried down to the moutl
Of a monstrous log. but Freckles wa
before him. He crashed through POI
son vines and underbrush regardles
of any danger and climbed on tn
stump. When Duncan got there o
was shouting like a wild thing:
"Its hatched" he yelled. "oh. m
b,e chicken has hatched out me httl
chicken, and there's another egg.
can see It plain. and. oh, the funn