Веснушки

           ”

           “Weel,Ibedrawedon!”exclaimedMrs.Duncan.“Whatkindofthingsdoyemean,Freckles?”

           “Why,justanarmyofblackants.Someofthemaresuckingawaylikeoldtopers.Someofthemaresettingupontheirtailsandhindlegs,fiddlingwiththeirfore-feetandwipingtheireyes.Somearerollingaroundontheground,contented.Therearequantitiesofbigblue-bottlefliesoverthebarkandhangingonthegrassesaround,toodrunktosteeracourseflying;sotheyjustbuzzawaylikeflying,andallthetimesittingstill.Thesnake-feedersaretoofulltofeedanything—evenmoresaptothemselves.There’salotofhard-backedbugs—beetles,Iguess—coloredlikethebrown,blue,andblackofapeacock’stail.Theyhangonuntilthelegsofthemaresowaketheycan’tstickaminutelonger,andthentheybreakawayandfalltotheground.Theyjustlaythereontheirbacks,fablyclawingair.Whenitwearsoffabit,uptheyget,andgocrawlingbackformore,andtheysofulltheybumpintoeachotherandrollover.Sometimestheycan’tclimbthetreeuntiltheywaittosoberupalittle.There’salotofbigblack-and-goldbumblebees,doneforentire,stumblingoverthebarkandrollingontheground.Theyjustlaythereontheirbacks,rockingfromsidetoside,singingtothemselveslikefat,happybabies.Thewildbeeskeepupasteadybuzzingwiththebeatingoftheirwings.

           “Thebutterfliesaretheworstoldtopersofthemall.They’rejustacircus!Youneversawthelikeofthebeauties!Theycomeeverycoloryoucouldbenaming,andeveryshapeyoucouldbethinkingup.