Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01
[FREGE(lE@
BY
Gene SGD@Gtt@m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY.
PACE h co.
CHAPTER VII.

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 we're the long
openings between the trees. filed 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 Freckes devout Chris
tian and did he worship here? Or was
he an untaught heather and down this
vista Of enhancing loneliness did Pan
come piping and dryads. nymphs and
fairies dance for him?
Who can fattom the heart Of a boy?
Mclean had been thinking of Freckles
as creature Of answering honesty.
courage and faith!uine>s. Here was
evidence of a heart aching for beauty.
art, companionship. worship. 1t was
writ large all over the floor. walls and
furnishing Of that little Limberlosr
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.
Il hope not" answered Mclean.
you never in all your life saw cur
whipped so completely. He won't
come back for the repetition of the
chorus We can surely find the tree.
If we can't Freckles can. | will bring
enough of the gang to take 1t out at
once. That will insure peace for
time at least. and am hoping that in
q month more the whole gang can bo
moved here. 1t will soon be fall. and
then, II he will 60. l intend to send
Freckles to my mother to be educated.
With his quickness Of mind and body
and few years good help he can do
anything. Why. Duncan, I'd give
hundred dollar bill If you could have
been here and seen for yourself"
Locating the tree was an easy task
because 1t was so we'll identified.
When the rumble of the lumber wag-
ons passing the cabin on the way to
the swamp wakened Freckles next
morning he sprang up and was soon
following them. The tree was giant
maple and so precious that they al
most dug 1t out by the roots.
Mclean had told Freckles to ride on
a section of the maple with him. but
now the boy begged to 60 into the
swamp with Duncan.
Il don't see why you want to CO."
said Mclean. Il have no business to
let you out today at ALL"
TITS me chickens. sir" answered
Freckles.
Freckles hurried into the swamp.
He was some little distance behind.
but he could still see the men. Before
he overlook them they had turned
from the west road and had entered
the swamp toward the east. The un.
derbrush was almost tmpenetrable. As
they plunged into it great black bird
swept over their heads.
Freckles danced wildly. ITS me
chickens! Oh. it's me chickensv he
shouted. "Oh, Duncan. come quick!
You've found the nest of me precious
chickens"
Duncan hurried down to the mouth
Of monstrous log but Freckles was
before him. He crashed through poi.
son vines and underbrush regardless
Of any danger and climbed on the
stump. When Duncan got there he
was shouting like a wild thing.
Its hatched" he yelled. "Oh, me
big chicken has hatched out me little
chicken. and there's another egg.
can see 1t plain, and, oh. the funny
little white baby! Duncan. can you
see me little white chicken"
Duncan could easily see it. and so
could every one else. Freckles ten
derby carried the kissing. blinking lit
tie thing out to the light in leaf lined
hat. The men found 1t sufficiently
wonderful to satisfy even Freckles,
who had forgotten he was ever sore
or stiff. and coddled over it with ev-
cry blarneying term Of endearment he
knew.
Duncan gathered up his tools.
Deals of. boys" he said cheerfully.
~The log mauna be touched until
Freckles' chaukies have finished with
1t. We might as weel gang. Better
put It back. Freckles. It's Just out.
and 1t may chill. Ye will probably
hae twa the morn"
Freckles deposited the baby beside
Tho asR. When he came back he said
II made big mistake not to be bring
ing the egg out with the baby, but !
was fearing to touch 1t. It's shaped
like hens egg, and it's big as a tur-
keys. and the beautifulest biue-just
'plattered with big brown splotches
IKE me book said. precise. But you
never saw such sight as it made on
the yellow Of the rotten wood beside
that funny Ieathery faced little white
baby"
TELL you what. Freckles," said one
OF the teamsters Have you ever
heard of this bird woman that goes all
,ver the country with camera and
aokes pictures? She made some on
ny brother Jim's place last summer.
mo Jims 80 wild about them he quits
blowing and goes after her about ev.
Try nest he 6nds. He helps her all he
IAN TO get them. and then she gives
aim picture. inns so proud Of what
pc mas he keeps them in the Bible.