The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-03-28
.OO
FRECKLES
BY
Gene SGTaGG0m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY DOUBLEDAY. PACE
q CO.

side guarding them 1t would be
picture not to be forgotten. Freckle
never tired Of studying the devotion
OF fox mother to her babies.
The angel was wild about the bah.
rabbits and squirrels Earlier in thu
season. when the young were still
very small. It had so happened tina
at times Freckles could give into hel
hands one Of these little ones. TheI
It was pure joy TO stand back anc
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
pathy. now burning with the fire OF
courage, now taking on strength OF
color with ambition. now flashing In
dignantly ut the abuse OF any creature.
She had carried several of the squirrel
and bunny babies home and had the
conservatory Uttered with them. Her
care of them was perfect.
Brown butterfly time had come. The
outer edge of the swale was filled with
| ulllh Wttu uiiil liibulS bfl'Nfh VI
| them. and the air was golden with the
flashing satin wings OF the monarch,
! viceroy and argynnis. They outnum-
bered those OF any other color three
| TO one.
Among the birds II really seemed as
| " the little yellow fellows were In the
! preponderauce At least they were
until the red winged blackbirds and
bobolinks that had nested on the up
land came swarmlng by hundreds for
these last few weeks before migration.
Never was there finer feast spread
for the birds. The grasses were filled
with seeds; so. TOO. were weeds OF
Wild grapes and black haws were
ready
They seemed 10 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.
He was fine. overgrown fellow. and
his wings. with quilts of jetty black,
cleaning with bronze. were so strong
they almost lifted his body The funny
little hops. springs and sidewise
bounds he gave set Freckes and the
Ing him. into smothered chuckles of
delight.
Sometimes he fell TO coquetting with
himself. and that was the funniest
thing OF all. for he turned his head up,
down, from side TO side. and drew in
his chin with prinky little jerks and
hts He would stretch his neck.
throw up his head. turn il to one side ,
md enthusiastically smirk. the most
'omplacent and self satisfied smirk
hat any one ever saw on the face of n
bird II was so comical that Freckes
nd the angel told the Bird Woman of /.
I one day.
When she finished her WORT on Little
'hlcken she left them the camera all
eady for use. telling them they might {
ode back in the bushes and watch. '
I Little Chicken came out and truly (
mirked and they could squeeze the 4
ulb at just the proper moment to o
nap him she would be more than de-
ghten a
Freckles and the angel quietly curl a
/ down beside a log and with eager b
res and softest breathing patiently Il
aited. They were becoming anxious. r,
n the light would soon be gone and d
ley had so wanted 10 try for the Il
cture. At last Little Chicken lifted tC
Is head. opened his beak and gaped q
idely. He dozed minute or two N
ore, The angel said that was his W
,auty sleep. Then he lazily gaped
,aiu and stood up, stretching and "
Iwning. He ambled leisurely down ii
ward the gateway. and the angel III
i'd, Now, we may have chance. 10
last" m
II do hope So" shlvered Freckles. CT
With one accord they rose to their
ices aud trained their eyes on the OF
outh OF the log. The light was full We
d strong Little Chicken prospected Gu
ain with no results. He dressed his sp
image, polished his beak. and when qu
felt fine and in full toilet he began a
dirt with himself. FreckeS eyes ST
apped and his breath sucked be or
cen his clenched teeth. ca
He's going to do it," whispered the tn
gel los
little Chicken nodded daintily and
He'd his feathers. He gave his head
ndry little sidewise jerks and rap
V shifted his point of vision. Once =
ere was the fleeting little ghost of /
irk
Now, Nor snapped the angel. l.
'reckes leaned toward the bird 2
nse as steel trap he waited. On nh
nsciously the hand of the angel So,
sped his. He scarcely knew 1t was ma
re. Suddenly Little Chicken sprang IN,
aight up in the air and landed with rol
thud The angel started slightly, IN,
/ Freckles was immovable. Then. 90,
II in approval of his last perform ba,
&c, the overgrown baby wheeled I'M
he was more than three-quarters. ct
most full side. toward the camera. ,h,
aightened on his legs, squared his :.