Chapter XI

           “Iwish,”saidFrecklesatbreakfastonemorning,“thatIhadsomewaytobesendingamessagetotheBirdWoman.I’vesomethingattheswampthatI’mbelievingneverhappenedbefore,andsurelyshe’llbewantingit.”

           “Whatnow,Freckles?”askedMrs.Duncan.

           “Why,theoddestthingyoueverheardof,”saidFreckles;“thewholeinsecttribegoneonaspree.I’msupposingit’smydoings,butitallhappenedbyaccident,like.Yousee,ontheswalesideoftheline,rightagainstmetrail,there’soneofthesescrubwildcrabtrees.Wherethegrassgrowsthickaroundit,isthefinestplaceyoueverconceivedofforsnakes.Havingwomenabouthassetmetryingtocleanoutthosefellowsabit,andyesterdayInoticedthattreeinpassing.Itstruckmethatitwouldbeagoodideatobetakingitout.FirstIthoughtI’dtakemehatchetandcutitdown,foritain’tthickerthanmeupperarm.ThenIrememberedhowitwasbloominginthespringandfillingalltheairwithsweetness.Thecoloringoftheblossomsisbeautiful,andIhatedtobekillingit.Ijustcutthegrassshortallaroundit.ThenIstartedattheground,trimmedupthetrunkneartheheightofmeshoulder,andleftthetopspreading.Thatmadeitlooksotrulyornamentalthat,idlelike,Ichipsofftheroughplacesneat,andthismorning,onmesoul,it’sasight!Yousee,cuttingoffthelimbsandtrimmingupthetrunksetsthesaprunning.Inthishotsunitfermentsinafewhours.Thereisn’tmuchroomformorethingstocrowdonthattreethanthereare,andtogetdrunkerisn’tnowayspossible.