The Irish standard., 1912-01-27
CHAPTER III.
a E6ATHER FALLS.

struck cold fear into Freckles'
I'LL soul he now knew had left on
wing and silent foot at the
approach Of winter. As flock after
flock Of the birds returned and he
recognized tho old echoes reawakening
he found to his surprise that he had
been lonely for them and was hailing
their return with great Joy. He was
possessed Of an overpowering desire
to know what they were, to learn
where they had been and whether they
would make friends with him as the
winter birds had done, and If they did
would they be as tickle? For with the
running sap, creeping worm and wing
ing bug most Of Freckles' chickens"
had deserted him, entered the swamp
and Toasted to such state Of plethora
on its store that they cared little for
his supply, SO that in the days of mat
ing and nest building the boy was de-
serted.
The yearly resurrection Of the Linn
berlost is a mighty revival. Freckles
stood back and watched with awe and
envy the gradual reclothing and re-
populating of the swamp. Keen eyed
and alert through danger and loneli-
ness, he noted every stage Of develop
ment from the first piping frog and I'M
sheathing bud to full LEAKAGE and the
return of the last emigrant.
The knowledge of his complete lone
illness aid utter insignificance was
hourly thrust upon him. He brooded
and fretted until he was in fever,
and yet he never guessed the cause.
He was filed with vast impotence
and q longing that would not much
further be denied.
It was June by the zodiac, June by
the Limberlost, and by every delight
of a newly resurrected season it should
have been June in the hearts Of all
men. Yet Freckles scowled darkly as
he came down the trail, and the run
ming tap, tap which tested the sagging
wire and telegraphed word Of his COM
ing to his furred and feathered friends
of the swamp this morning carried the
Btory o. his discomfort mile ahead Of
him.
Freckles' special pet, dainty yellow
coated, black sleeved cock goldfnch,
had for several days past remained
Dn the wire, the bravest Of all, and
Freckles, absorbed. with the cunning
and beauty Of the tiny. fellow, never
guessed that he was being duped, for
the goldflnch was skipping, flirting
and swinging for the express purpose
of holding his attention that he would
not look up and see a small cradle Of
thistledown and wool perilously near
his head.
A peculiar movement under a small
walnut tree caught his eye. He stop
ped to investigate. It was an un-
usually large Luna cocoon, and the
moth was just bursting the upper end
In it's struggles to reach light and air.
Freckles stood and stared.
'There's something In there trying
to get out" he muttered. wonder If
could help It? Guess best not be
trying. If I hadn't happened along
there wouldn't have been any one to
help 1t, and maybe I'd only be hurting
1t. It's-it's-oh, skaggany! It's just
being borng'
Freckles gasped with surprise. The
moth cleared the opening and with
great weddings and contortions climb
ed up the tree. He stared, speeches.
with amazement as the moth crept
around limb and chung to the under
side. There was great pursy body
almost as large as his thumb and Of
the very snowiest white that Freckles
had ever seen. There was a band OF
delicate lavender across its forehead.
and its feet were of the same color.
There were antlers like tiny straw
colored ferns on its head and on its
shoulders little wet looking flaps no
bigger than his thumb nail. Freckles
saw that those queer little wet look
Ing things were expanding, dropping,
taking on color, and small oval mark
lngs were beginning to show.
The minutes went by. Freckles'
steady gaze never wavered. Without
realizing it he was trembling with
eagerness and anxiety. As he saw
what was taking place cts going to
have wings" he breathed in hushed
wonder. The morning sun fell on the
moth and dried its velvet down, and
the soft air made it fluffy. The rapid
ly growing wings began to appear to
be Of the most delicate green, with lay
ender fore ribs. transparent, eye shap-
ed markings edged with lines OF red,
ian and black and long, crisp trailers.
Freckles was whispering to himself
Tor fear Of disturbing the moth. 1t be-
gan systematic exercise OF raising
and lowering it's exquisite wings to
dry them and to establish circulation.
Freckles realized that it would soon
be able to spread them and sail away.
His long coming soul sent up Its hrst
Shivering cry.
II don't know what it is. oh. wish
I knew!. How I wish knew! 1t
must be something grand. It can't be
~ a. II