't be spending any
time on how they looked or moved. All I'd be thinking of would be how
they felt toward me. If they will stay, I'll be caring as much for them
as any chickens I have. If I did laugh at them I thought he was just
fine!"

The face of McLean was a study; but the honest eyes of the boy were so
compelling that he found himself answering: "You are right, Freckles.
He's a gentleman, isn't he? And the only real chicken you have. Of
course he'll remain! The Limberlost will be paradise for his family. And
now, Freckles, what has been the trouble all spring? You have done your
work as faithfully as anyone could ask, but I can't help seeing that
there is something wrong. Are you tired of your job?"

"I love it," answered Freckles. "It will almost break me heart when
the gang comes and begins tearing up the swamp and scaring away me
chickens."

"Then what is the trouble?" insisted McLean.

"I think, sir, it's been books," answered Freckles. "You see, I didn't
realize it meself until the bullfrog told me this morning. I hadn't ever
even heard about a place like this. Anyway, I wasn't understanding how
it would be, if I had. Being among these beautiful things every day, I
got so anxious like to be knowing and naming them, that it got to eating
into me and went and made me near sick, when I was well as I could be.
Of course, I learned to read, write, and figure some at school, but
there was nothing there, or in any of the city that I 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 good Lord, they ain't even
beginning to be in it with the Limberlost! It's all new and strange to
me. I 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; ain't they?"

"Of course," said McLean, astonished at 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?"

"I am pretty sure I do," said Freckles. "I learned all I'd the chance at
in the Home, and me schooling was good as far as it went. Wouldn't let
you go past fourteen, you know. I always did me sums perfect, and loved
me history books. I had them almost by heart. I never could get me
grammar to suit them. They said it was just born in me to go wrong
talking, and if it hadn't