Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-08-02

1 u Tue new bTTlFdl huu gave Qer u Silly
little peck ON her wing. Then he Co
quettishly drew away and ogled her
He lifted his head and waddled from
her a few steps. awkwardly ambled
back and gave her sort of kiss on
her beak.
} The lover sidestepped few feet. he
spread his wings and slowly and softly
waved them precisely. as If he were
tanning his charmer. which indeed
was the result he accomplished. Then
he hobblcd up to his bombardment
once more. He faced her squarely
this time and turned his head from
side to side with queer little jerks and
indiscriminate peckings at her wings
and head. She yawned and shufled
away indinerently. Freckles reached
up. pulled the quill from his hat and.
looking from it to the birds. nodded In
settled conviction.
With a ravishing swagger. half lift
ed wings and deep. cultural kissing the
lover came on again. He suddenly lift
ed his body. but the other bird coolly
rocked forward on the limb, glided
gracefully beneath him and slowly
sailed Off into the Limberlost.
Freckles hurried down the trail, and
when he neared the path to the clear
ing and saw the boss sitting motion
less on the mare that was the pride of
his heart the boy broke into a run.
"Oh. Mr.. Mclean he cried, II hope
I haven't kept you waiting very long!
And the sun IS getting so hotI have
been so slow this morning! l could
have gone faster. only there were so
many things to keep me, and l didn't
know you would be here I'll hurry
after this. I've never bad to be giving
excuses before. The line wasn't down.
and there wasn't a sign of trouble. 1t
was other things that were making
me late"
This flushed painting. laxative lad
was not the same creature that had
sought him in despair and bitterness.
With an eloquence of which he never
dreamed Freckles told his story. He
talked with such enthusiasm that Nc
Lean never took his eyes from his
face nor shifted in the saddle until
be 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 Freckles.
"Do you suppose there is any chance
of them staying with me chickens?
If they do they'll be about the queer
est / have. But tell you. sir. | am
getting some plumb good ones. There's
a new kind over at the mouth of the
creek that uses its wings like feet
and walks on all fours. 1t travels like
a thrashing machine. There's anoth-
er. tail as me. waist. with bill foot
long. a 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 If he'd be go
ing up and standing by a tree and
saving at it n few times he could be
cutting it square off. | don't know
but it would be good idea to try
him on the gang. sir"
Mclean laughed. Those must be |
blue herons. Freckles,' he said. And |
it doesn't seem possible. but your story |
of the big black birds sounds like gen |
uine black vutures. 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
HE was loving Ger So said Free
kles in a hushed voice. Freckles lift
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 I'd be thinking of was
how they felt toward me- If they will
stay III 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
here is something wrong Are you
tired Of your job"
II love it, answered Freckles. at
will almost break me heart when the
gang begins tearing up the swamp
md soaring away me chickens
-'Then what is the matter?" insisted
Mclean.
al think. sir. it's been books. Being
lmong these beautiful things every !
lay. l got so anxious like to be know
ng and naming them that it got to
Eating into me and went and made me !
lear sick wen l was well as could |
,e. OF con. - learned to read. write !
md figure some at school. but there
vas nothing there nor in any Of the {
'ity that l ever got 10 see that would
make a fellow even he dreaming of {
uch interesting things as there are {
lere. I've seen the parks. but they
int even beginning to be in it with
It's all new and strange
o me. don't know a thing about '
ny of it. The bullfrog told me to
find ont plain rs day. and books are [