The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-02

cans desire for q hat like the an.
gels. He hesitated a little in the tell
ing and kept sharp watch on Nc.
Leans face. When he saw the boss
eyes were full Of sympathy he loved
him anew. for. as ever, Mclean was
quick to understand Instead Of
laughing he said: Il guess you'll have
to let me In on that too. You mustn't
be selfish, you know. I'll tell you
what we'll do. Get 1t for Christmas.
I'll be home then, and We can send q
box. You get the hat. Ill add dresa
and wrap. You get Duncan a hat
and gloves. I'll send him q big over
coat, and we'll put In q lot Of little
stuff for the babies"
THAT would be away too serious
for fun" said Freckles. 'Thst would
be heavenly"
A week later everything at the Linn.
berlost was precisely a. 1t bad been
before the tragedy, except tho case
In Freckles' room now rested on the
stump Of the newly felled tree.
Enough of the vines were left to cover
1t prettily, and every vestige Of the
havoc Of few days before was gone.
The new guards were patrolling the
trail. Freckles was roughly laying OF
the swamp In sections and searching
for marked trees. In that time he had
found one deeply Clipped and the chip
cunningly replaced and tackled In. II
promised to be quite rare, so he was
jubilant. He also found so many sub
jects for the Bird Woman that her
coming was of almost daily occur
renee, and the hours he spent with
her and the angel were nothing less
than golden.
The Limberlost now was arrayed
like the queen Of Sheba in all bei
glory. The first frosts of autumn had
bcjewelcd her crown in flashing topaz,
ruby and emerald. About her feet
trailed the purple Of her garments. and
in her hand was her golden scepter.
Everything was at full tide. 1t seem,
ed as If nothing could grow lovelier.
and it was all stnnding still few
weeks. waiting coming destruction.
The swamp was palpitnnt with life.
1t in the spring was now multiplied by
from two to ten. The young were
tame from Treckles' triparenthood,
and SO plump and sleek that they were
quite as beautiful as their elders. even
If in many cases they lacked their
brilliant plumage. There were chubby
little groundhogs scudding along the
trail. There were cunning baby coons
and opossums peeping from hollow
logs and trees. Young muskrats fol-
lowed their parents across the lagoons.
If you could come upon family of
foxes that had not yet disbanded and
see the young playing with wild
ducks carcass that their mother had
brought nnd note the pride and sat
isfaction in her eyes as she lay at one
side guarding them 1t would be a
picture not to be forgotten. Freckles
never tired of studying the devotion
of fox mother to her babies.
The angel was Wild about the baby
rabbits and squirrels. Earlier in the
season. when the young were still
very small. 1t had SO happened that
at times Freckles could give into her
hands one Of these little ones. Then
1t was pure Joy to stand back and
watch her heaving breast. flushed
cheek and shining eyes, Hers were
such lovely eyes. They were forever
changing. Now sparkling and dark
ling with wit. now humid with SYM
patty. now burning with the fire OF
courage. now taking on strength of
color with ambition. now flashing in.
dignantly Mt the abuse Of any creature.
She had carried several of the squirrel
and bunny babies home and had the
conservatory Uttered with them. Hel
care of them was perfect.
Brown butterfly time had come. The
outer edge of the swale was filled with
milkweed and other plants beloved OF
them. and the air was golden with the
hoshing satin wings of the monarch.
viccroy and argynnis. They outnum-
bered those of any other color three
to one.
Among the birds 1t really seemed as
Il the little yellow fellows were In the
preponderance. At least they were
until the red winged blackbirds and
bobolinks that had nestled on the up.
land came swarming by hundreds fol
these last few weeks before migration.
Never was there a finer feast spread
for the birds. The grasses were filed
with seeds; so, too, were weeds OF
every variety. Fall berries were ripe.
Wild grapes and black haws were
ready. - a.
They seemed to feel the new reign OF
peace and fullness most Of all. As for
hunting. they didn't even have to hunt
for themselves these days, for the
bounty now being spread before Little
Chicken every day was more than he
could master, and he was glad to have
his parents come down and feast with
him. ..s4H
He was q fine. overgrown fellow. and
his wings. with quilts Of jetty black.
1rIoo yoane, With hponzo xuoro On atrOnD