Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-18

his heart the boy broke into run.
"Oh, Mr.. Mclean" no cried' ! nope
I haven't kept you waiting very ione'
And the sun IL getting so boti 4 navs
been 30 slow this morning! l cou'u
have gone faster, only there were 30
many things to keep me. ana l oiuht
know you would be here. III hurry
after this. I've never had to be giving
excuses before. The line wasn't Gown.
ana there wasn't a sign OF trouble. II
was other things that were making
me late"
This flushed. painting. talkauve lad
was not the same creature that nao
sought him in despair and bitterness.
With an eloquence Of which no never
,, dreamed Freckles told his story. he
talked With such enthusiasm that Nc
Lean never took his eyes from MS
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 Frecklos.
DO you suppose there Is any chance
OF them staying with me chickens?
II they do they'll be about the queer
est l have. But l tell you, sir. l nm
getting some plumb good ones. There's
new kind over at the mouth OF the
creek that uses its wings like feet
and walks on all tours. 1t travels like
thrashing machine. There's anoth-
or. tall as me waist. with bill foot
long. n 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 IL he'd he 60
Ing up and standing by tree and
nwing Mt it a few times he could be
cutting It square of. | don't know
but 1t would he a good idea to try
him on the gang. sir"
Mclean laughed Those must be
blue herons. Freckes" he said. And
1t doesn't seem possible. but your story
of the big black birds sounds like gen
une 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 a branch Of
these birds called in Europe Pharaoh's
chickens"
HE was loving Ger So" said Free
kles in hushed voice. Freckles Mt
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 Id nc thinking Of was
how they felt toward me-. II 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 spring? 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 job"
II love it." answered FrecGles at
will almost break me heart when the
gang begins tearing up the swamp
and soaring away me chickens"
''Then what is the matter?" insisted
Mclean. ..r4
81 think. sir. it's been books. Being
among these beautiful things every
day. got so anxious like to be know
ing and naming them that 1t got to
eating into me and went and made me
near sick when | was we'll rs | could
be. OF course learned TO read. write
and figure Some At school. but there
was nothing there nor in any of the
city that l ever got to see that would
make n fellow even be dreaming "
such interesting things as there are
here I've seen the parks. but they
uin't even beginning to be in 1t with
I.imberlost. It's all new and strange
to me. don't know thing about
Lny of Il. The bullfrog told me TO
find out rlnin MS day. and books are
Tho only way. amt they"
"Of course" said Mclean. astonished
1t himself for his heartfelt relief. He
had not guessed until that minute
whit it would have meant to him to
have Freckles give up "You know
enough TO study ont what you want
yourself IL you have the books. don't
YOU"
II am pretty sure do" said Free
kles. ~ learned all Id the chance ut
In the home. and me schooling was
good as far as 1t went. Wouldn't let
you go past fourteen. YOU know.
always did me sums perfect. and |
loved me history books. never could
ret me grammar to suit them. They
said II was just born In me TO go
wrong talking. but ! could knock them
MI out singing. was always leader
IN the home. and once one of the Sill
perintendents gave me car fare and let
ne 60 into the city and sing in boys
choir. The master said I'd the swa.est
voice OF them all until it got rough
like. and then he made me quit for
awhile, but he said 1t would be coming
back by now. and In, rally thinking
1t is, sir. for I've tried about the line
q bit OF late.
THAT and me chickens has been all
the company I've been having. aud it
will be all III want II cum have
books and learn the real names OF
things. where they come from and
why they do such interesting things.
It's been fretting me to be shut up
here among all these wonders and not
knowing a thing wanted to nsk you
what some books would cost me and
II you'd be having the goodness to get
me the right ones think ! have