The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-02-01

tioningly. and again his awed eyes
swept the sky.
"A feather dropped from heavenP
he breathed reverently. Are the holy
angels molting? But, no; If they were
II would be white. Maybe all the an
gels are not for being white. What if
the angels of God are white and those
Of the devil are black? But black
one has no business up there. Maybe
some poor black angel is so tired of be-
ing punished it's for slipping up to the
gates. beating its wings trying to
make the Master hear!'
Again and again Freckles searched
the sky. but there was no answering
CLEAN of golden gates, no form of sail
| ing bird. Then he went slowly on his
way. turning the feather over and
wondering about 1t. 1t was a wing
quil eighteen inches In length, with
big, heavy spine, gray at the base,
shading to jet black at the tip. and it
caught the play Of the suns rays in
slanting CLEANS of green and bronze.
Again Freckles' "old man of the sea-
sat sullen and heavy on his shoulders
and weighted him down until his step
Jagged and his heart ached.
Where did it come from? What
is 1t? oh. how l wish l knew" he
kept repeating.
Before him spread a great green
pool, filed with rotting logs and
leaves, bordered with delicate ferns
and grasses. among which lifted the
creamy spikes of the arrowhead. the
blue of water hyacinth and the deli
cate yellow of the jewel flower. AS
Freckles leaned. handling the feather
and staring first at it and then into
the depths OF the pool, he once more
gave voice to his old query, IL won
der what it is?"
Straight across from him, couched |
in the MOSES of a soggy old log. big !
green bullfrog. with palpitant throat |
and batting eyes, lifted his head and
beloved in answer, Fin dout, fin
dout,"
"Wha-what's that?" stammered
Freckles, almost too much taken aback
TO speak. IL know you are only
bullfrog; but. be jabers, that sound
ed nightly like speech. Wouldn't you
please to be saying it over?"
The bullfrog cuddled contentedly in
the ooze. Then suddenly he lifted his
voice and. like an imperative drum
beat, rolled it again, Fin dout, fin
iout, fin dout"
Freckles had the answer,
Like the lightning's fash. something
seemed TO snap in his brain. There
Then his mind cleared His head lift
ID in a new poise. his shoulders squar-
d, and his spine Strengthened. The
gony was over. His soul tloated free.
Creckles came into his birthright> S
Before God. will!' He uttered the
ath so impressively that the record
ng angel never WINGED as he posted it t
Up in the prayer column.
Freckles set his hat over the top of f
ne of the locust posts used between
rees to hold up the wire and fastened a
he feather securely in the band. Then t
e started down the line. talking to
imself as men that have worked long o
lone always fall into the habit of do e
lg. o
"What a fool have beenr' be NUT L
cred. "Of course that's what / have e
, do. There wouldn't likely anybody g
e doing il for me. OF course l can. a
What am | man for? If | was C
,ur footed thing of the swamp maybe a
couldn't. but a man can do anything a
he's the grit to work hard enough Ell
nd stick at 1t, Mr. Mclean is always lo
lying. and here's the way am to do nj
He said too, that there were peo- II
e that knew everything in the W
vamp. OF course they have written VI
,oks. The thing for me to be doing in
TO quit moping and be buying me So
me books. Never bought a book in CT
e life or anything else of much ac- b,
unit. for that matter. oh. amt | hi
ad l didn't waste me money! I'll
rely be having enough to get a few. bl
et me see" it