The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-02-01
.FRECKLES
chickens"
Continued from Page 6.

Z chickens.
HE was loving ner 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 I'll be caring as much for them
as any chickens l have"
The face of Mclean was q 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?"
81 love it." answered Freckles. 'Tt
will almost break me heart when the
gang begins tearing up the swamp
and soaring away me chickens"
ssTben what is the matter?" insisted
Mclean.
81 think. sir, it's been books. Being
among these beautiful things every
6lay. l got so anxious like to be know
ing and naming them that it got to
eating into me and went and made me
near sick when | was well as | 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 a fellow even be dreaming of
such interesting things as there are
here. I've seen the parks, but they
amt even beginning to be In it with
Limberlost. It's all new and strange
to me. / don't know a thing about
any of it. The bullfrog told me to
find OUT plain as day. and books are
the only way. amt theyT'
"Of course" said Mclean. astonished
Mt himself for his heartfelt relief. He
had not guessed until that minute
what it would have meant to him to
have Freckles give up. You know
enough to study out what you want
yourself If you have the books, don't
you?"
81 am pretty sure I do" said Free
kles. 81 learned all I'd the chance at
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
get me grammar to suit them. They
said it was just born In me to go
wrong talking. but could knock them
all out singing. I was always leader
in the home, and once one OF the su-
perintendents gave me car fare and let
me go into the city and sing In boys
choir. The master said I'd the swatest
voice of them all until 1t got rough
like, and then he made me quit for
awhile, but he said 1t would be coming
back by now, and I'm rally thinking
st is, sir. for I've tried about the line
bit of late.
THAT and me chickens has been all
the company I've been having. and it
will be all I'll want if | can 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 thing. I wanted to ask you
what some books would cost me and
If you'd be having the goodness to get
me the right ones. l think 1 have
enough money"
Freckles handed up his account book,
and the boss studied it gravely.
"You needn't touch your bank ac-
count, Freckles," he said "Ten dol
iars from this months pay will get
rn,, ororrthinn Won need TO start on.