Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-05-14
@O
F FRECkLES
BY
Gene SNraGG@M-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE
q GO.
O
(cONTINUED.1


the companionship of the birds and
beasts Of the swamp Freckles turned
to them for friendship. He began by
instInctively protecting the weak and
HELPLESS. He was astonished at the
auickness with which they became ac-
customed TO him once they learned
that he was not hunter and that the
club he carried was used more fre
auently for their benefit than his own.
He could scarcely believe what he saw.
When black frosts began stripping
the Limberlost be watched the depart
ing troops of his friends with dismay.
He made special efforts toward FREUD
liness with the hope that he could In
duce some of them to stay. 1t was
then that he conceived the idea OF
carrying food to the birds, for he saw
that they were leaving for lack of it.
But he could not stop them. Day
after day focks gathered and depart
ed. BY the time the first snow whit
ened his trail about the Limberlost
there were left only the little black
and white juncos. the sapsuckers. yel-
Iowhammers. few patriarchs among
the flaming cardinals. the bluejays.
the crows and the quail.
Then Freckles began bis wizard
work. He cleared space Of swale,
and twice 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 his provisions. In few weeks
they flew toward the clearing to meet
him. BY the bitter weather OF Jan
uary they came halfway to the cabin
every morning and futtered about him
like doves all 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 a gorgeous
cardinal and u rabbit sOciably niDbline
cabbage leaf side by side. and that
instantly gave to him the idea OF
cracking nuts from the store be had
gathered for Duncan's children. fol
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 dlled with vast impatience
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 e1.
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 be
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
a wonderful strength Of body, paying
his way and saving money.
Mrs. Duncan had hot drink ready
for him when he came in from freez-
ing day on the trail. knitted heavy
mitten for his left hand. devised q
yay 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 ! v It's utter lOnelipess. When
Duncan l. ,ghed ut her for this she re-
torted: "My God. mamie. If Freckles
hadna thu birds and the beasts he
would be always alone. 1t was never
meant for human being to be sa soil.
tary."
The next morning Duncan gave an
ear of corn ne was shelling to Free
kles and told him to carry It to his wild
chickens In the Limberlost. Freckles
laughed delightedly.
"Me chickensp he said. "Why didn't
[ ever think Of that before? or course
they are! They are just little brightly
colored cocks and hens. hut what
would you say to me wild chickens De-
Ing good deal tanner than yours here
In your yard"
"Hoot, lad" cried Duncan.
"NIake YOURS light Oh yo-.- head and
eat out Of your hands a,S pockets"
challenged Freckles.
"Go tell your fairy tales to the wee
people! They're juist brash on Do
levin things" said Duncan.
az dare you to come seer retortes
Freckles.
"Take yew said Duncan. III ye
make julst ane bird licht on your neio
or eat frae your hand ye are free 10
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 bis wife ana
children, followed Freckles 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 and swept so closely them
selves that they brushed him with their
outspread wings.
At their feeding ground Freckles set
down his old pail Of scraps and swept
the snow from q small level space with
a broom improvised from twigs. As
soon as his back was turned the birds
clustered over the food. snatchins
scraps to carry to the nearest bushes
Several of the boldest. big crow and
a couple Of jays. settled on the rim
and feasted at leisure. while cardi'
nal that hesitated to venture fumed
ond scolded from q twig overhead.