Веснянки

           Dayafterday,flocksgatheredanddeparted:bythetimethefirstsnowwhitenedhistrailaroundtheLimberlost,therewereleftonlythelittleblack-and-whitejuncos,thesapsuckers,yellow-hammers,afewpatriarchsamongtheflamingcardinals,thebluejays,thecrows,andthequail.

           ThenFrecklesbeganhiswizardwork.Heclearedaspaceofswale,andtwiceadayhespreadabirds’banquet.BythemiddleofDecemberthestrongwindsofwinterhadbeatenmostoftheseedfromthegrassandbushes.Thesnowfell,coveringtheswamp,andfoodwasveryscarceanddifficulttofind.ThebirdsscarcelywaiteduntilFreckles’backwasturnedtoattackhisprovisions.Inafewweekstheyflewtowardtheclearingtomeethim.DuringthebitterweatherofJanuarytheycamehalfwaytothecabineverymorning,andflutteredaroundhimasdovesallthewaytothefeeding-ground.BeforeFebruarytheyweresoaccustomedtohim,andsohunger-driven,thattheywouldperchonhisheadandshoulders,andthesaucyjayswouldtrytopryintohispockets.

           ThenFrecklesaddedtowheatandcrumbs,everyscrapofrefusefoodhecouldfindatthecabin.Hecarriedtohispetstheparingsofapples,turnips,potatoes,straycabbage-leaves,andcarrots,andtiedtothebushesmeat-boneshavingscrapsoffatandgristle.Onemorning,comingtohisfeeding-groundunusuallyearly,hefoundagorgeouscardinalandarabbitsidebysidesociablynibblingacabbage-leaf,andthatinstantlygavetohimtheideaofcrackingnuts,fromthestorehehadgatheredforDuncan’schildren,forthesquirrels,intheefforttoaddthemtohisfamily.