Веснянки
Chapter VII
Nowherewasanotherclass,thathadalltheyneededoftheworld’sbestandwereengagedindoingworkthatcounted.Theyhadthingsworthwhiletobeproudof;andtheyhadmethimasasonandbrother.Withthemhecould,fortheonlytimeinhislife,forgetthelosthandthateverydaytorturedhimwithanewpang.Whatkindofpeopleweretheyandwheredidtheybelongamongtheclassesheknew?Hefailedtodecide,becauseheneverhadknownotherssimilartothem;buthowhelovedthem!
Intheworldwherehewasgoingsoon,werethemajoritylikethem,orweretheyofthehypocriteandbun-throwingclasses?
Hehadforgottentheexcitementofthemorningandthepassingoftimewhendistantvoicesarousedhim,andhegentlyliftedhishead.Nearerandnearertheycame,andastheheavywagonsrumbleddowntheeasttrailhecouldhearthemplainly.ThegangwereshoutingthemselveshoarsefortheLimberlostguard.Frecklesdidnotfeelthathedeservedit.Hewouldhavegivenmuchtobeabletogotothemenandexplain,buttoMcLeanonlycouldhetellhisstory.
AtthesightofFrecklesthementhrewuptheirhatsandcheered.McLeanshookhandswithhimwarmly,butbigDuncangatheredhimintohisarmsandhuggedhimasabearandchokedoverafewwordsofpraise.Thegangdroveinandfinishedfellingthetree.McLeanwasangrybeyondmeasureatthisattemptonhisproperty,forintheirhastetofellthetreethethieveshadcuttoohighandwastedafootandahalfofvaluabletimber.
Whenthelastwagonrolledaway,McLeansatonthestumpandFrecklestoldthestoryhewasachingtotell.
