Веснянки

           Hewasafine,big,overgrownfellow,andhiswings,withquillsofjettyblack,gleamingwithbronze,weresostrongtheyalmostliftedhisbody.Hehadthreeinchesoftail,andhisbeakandclawsweresharp.Hismusclesbegantoclamorforexercise.Heracedthefortyfeetofhishomebackandforthmanytimeseveryhouroftheday.Afterafewdaysofthat,hebeganliftingandspreadinghiswings,andfloppingthemuntilthedownonhisbackwasfilledwithelmfiber.Thenhecommencedjumping.Thefunnylittlehops,springs,andsidewiseboundshegavesetFrecklesandtheAngel,hiddenintheswamp,watchinghim,intosmotheredchucklesofdelight.

           Sometimeshefelltocoquettingwithhimself;andthatwasthefunniestthingofall,forheturnedhisheadup,down,fromsidetoside,anddrewinhischinwithprinkylittlejerksandtilts.Hewouldstretchhisneck,throwuphishead,turnittoonesideandsmirk—actuallysmirk,themostcomplacentandself-satisfiedsmirkthatanyoneeversawonthefaceofabird.ItwassocomicalthatFrecklesandtheAngeltoldtheBirdWomanofitoneday.

           WhenshefinishedherworkonLittleChicken,sheleftthemthecamerareadyforuse,tellingthemtheymighthideinthebushesandwatch.IfLittleChickencameoutandtrulysmirked,andtheycouldsqueezethebulbatthepropermomenttosnaphim,shewouldbemorethandelighted.

           FrecklesandtheAngelquietlycurledbesideabiglog,andwitheagereyesandsoftestbreathingtheypatientlywaited;butLittleChickenhadfeastedbeforetheytoldofhislatestaccomplishment.