The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-07-04
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGraGa0m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
co.
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE

thing like this, for six feet II spread Its
great shining wings. Its big. strong
feet could be seen drawn up among Its
feathers. The sun gllnted on Its sharp.
hooked beak. II III on low tree, and
a second later Freckles saw another
shadow sweep the grass.
They were evidently mates, for with
queer rolling hop the 6rst conner
shivered his bronze wings. sided up
to the new arrival and gave her a silly
little peck on her wing. Then he CO.
quettishly drew away and oeled her.
He lifted bis Head and waddled from
her a few steps, awkwardly ambled
back and gave her a sort Of kiss on
her beak.
The lover sidestepped a few feet He
spread his wings and slowly and softly
waved them precisely, as II he were
tanning his charmer, which indeed
was the result he accomplished. Then
he hobbled up to his bombardment
once more. He faced her squarely
this time and turned his head from
side to side with queer little Jerks and
indiscriminete peckings at her wings
and head. She yawned and shuffied
away indifferentiy. Freckles reached
up. pulled the quill from his hat and,
looking from II to the birds, nodded In
settled conviction.
With q ravishing swagger. half lift
ed wings and deep. cultural kissing the
lover came on again. He suddenly lift
ed his body. but the other bird coolly
rocked forward on the limb, glided
gracefully beneath him and slowly
sailed OF into the Limberlost.
Freckles hurried down the trail. and
when he neared the path to the clear
ing and saw the boss sitting motion.
less on the mare that was the pride Of
his heart the boy broke into run.
"Oh, Mr.. Mclean" he cried. II hope
I haven't kept you waiting very long!
And the sun is getting so hoti have
been so slow this morningi could
have gone faster. only there were so
many things to keep me. and I didn't
know you would be here. I'll hurry
after this. I've never had to be giving
excuses before. The line wasn't down,
and there wasn't a sign Of trouble. 1t
was other things that we're making
me late"
This flushed, painting, laxative lad
was not the same creature that had
sought him in despair and bitterness.
With an eloQuence Of which he never
dreamed Freckles told his story. He
talked with such enthusiasm that Nc
Lean never took bis eyes from his
face nor shifted in the saddle until
he described the strange bird lover.
and then the boss suddenly bent over
the pommel and laughed with him.
They're back there in the middle
Of the swamp now" said Freckles-
do you suppose there Is any chance
Of them staying with me chickens7
II they do they'll be about the queer
est / have. But l tell you, sir. am
getting some plumb good ones. There's
a new kind over at the mouth Of the
creek that uses its wings like feet
and walks on all fours. 1t travels like
a thrashing machine. There's anoth-
er, tall as me waist, with bill foot
long, a neck near two, not the thick
ness of me wrist and an elegant color.
He's some blue and gray, touched up
with black. white and brown. The
voice of him Is such that II he'd be go
ing up and standing by a tree and
saving at It a few times he could be
cutting 1t square off, don't know
but 1t would be a good idea to try
him on the gang. sir"
Mclean laughed. Those must be
blue herons, Freckles," he said. And
It doesn't seem possible. but your story
of the big black birds sounds like-gen-
uine black vultures. They are COM
mon 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 or
these birds called In Europe Pharaoh's
chickens"
"He was loving DER So" said Free
kles in a hushed voice. Freckles lift
ed his brave. steady eyes to the boss.
IF anybody loved me like that, Mr.
Mclean. | wouldn't be spending any
time caring how they looked or
moved. All I'd be thinking OF was
how they felt toward me. IL they will
stay I'll be caring as much for them
as any chickens have"
The face OF Mclean was a study.
"And now, Freckles. what has been
the trouble all springf You have done
your work as faithfully as any one
could ask. but | can't help seeing that
there Is something wrong. Are you
tired of your jobT"
81 love IT," answered Freckles. ut |
will almost break me heart when the |
gang begins tearing up the swamp |
and soaring away me chickens"
''Then what is the matterf'' insisted
Mclean.
81 think. sir, it's been books. Being
among these beautiful things every :
day, 1 got so anxious like to be know
ing and naming them that II got TO
eating into me and went and made me
near sick when was well as l could
be. OF course learned TO read. write
and figure some at school, but there