Веснянки

           Chicagoisabig,wickedcity,andgrownpeoplecoulddisappearinmanyways,andwhowouldthereeverbetofindtowhomtheirlittlechildrenbelonged?Theminutemyfathertoldmehowyoufelt,Ibegantostudythisthingover,andI’vemadeupmymindyouaredeadwrong.ImeanttoaskmyfatherortheBirdWomantotalktoyoubeforeyouwentawaytoschool,butasmattersarerightnowIguessI’lljustdoitmyself.It’sallsoplaintome.Oh,ifIcouldonlymakeyousee!”

           Sheburiedherfaceinthepillowandpresentlyliftedit,transfigured.

           “NowIhaveit!”shecried.“Oh,dearheart!Icanmakeitsoplain!Freckles,canyouimagineyouseetheoldLimberlosttrail?Wellwhenwefollowedit,youknowtherewereplaceswhereugly,pricklythistlesovergrewthepath,andyouwentaheadwithyourclubandbentthembacktokeepthemfromstingingthroughmyclothing.Otherplacestherewerebigshiningpoolswherelovely,snow-whiteliliesgrew,andyouwadedinandgatheredthemforme.Ohdearheart,don’tyousee?It’sthis!Everywherethewindcarriedthatthistledown,otherthistlessprangupandgrewprickles;andwhereverthoselilyseedssanktothemire,thepurewhiteofotherliliesbloomed.But,Freckles,therewasneveraplaceanywhereintheLimberlost,orinthewholeworld,wherethethistledownfloatedandsprangupandblossomedintowhitelilies!Thistlesgrowfromthistles,andliliesfromotherlilies.DearFreckles,thinkhard!Youmustseeit!Youarealily,straightthrough.Younever,nevercouldhavedriftedfromthethistle-patch.