Веснянки

           Soonhehadthemcoming—red,gray,andblack;thenhebecamefilledwithavastimpatiencethathedidnotknowtheirnamesorhabits.

           Sothewinterpassed.EveryweekMcLeanrodetotheLimberlost;neveronthesamedayoratthesamehour.AlwayshefoundFrecklesathiswork,faithfulandbrave,nomatterhowseveretheweather.

           Theboy’searningsconstitutedhisfirstmoney;andwhentheBossexplainedtohimthathecouldleavethemsafeatabankandcarryawayascrapofpaperthatrepresentedtheamount,hewentstraightoneverypaydayandmadehisdeposit,keepingoutbarelywhatwasnecessaryforhisboardandclothing.Whathewantedtodowithhismoneyhedidnotknow,butitgavetohimasenseoffreedomandpowertofeelthatitwasthere—itwashisandhecouldhaveitwhenhechose.InimitationofMcLean,heboughtasmallpocketaccount-book,inwhichhecarefullysetdowneverydollarheearnedandeverypennyhespent.AshisexpensesweresmallandtheBosspaidhimgenerously,itwasastonishinghowhislittlehoardgrew.

           ThatwinterheldthefirsthoursofrealhappinessinFreckles’life.Hewasfree.Hewasdoingaman’sworkfaithfully,througheveryrigorofrain,snow,andblizzard.Hewasgatheringawonderfulstrengthofbody,payinghisway,andsavingmoney.EverymanofthegangandofthatlocalityknewthathewasundertheprotectionofMcLean,whowasapower,thishadtheeffectofsmoothingFreckles’pathinmanydirections.

           Mrs.Duncanshowedhimthatindividualkindnessforwhichhishungryheartwaslonging.