Веснянки

           Howareallthegang?Havetheyfoundanymoregoodtrees?I’vebeenthinkingalot,sir.IbelieveIcanfindothersnearthatlastone.MeAuntAlicethinksmaybeIcan,andUncleTerencesaysit’slikely.Golly,butthey’renice,ilegantpeople.ItellyouI’mproudtobesamebloodwiththem!Comecloser,quick!Iwasgoingtodothisyesterday,andsomehowIjustfeltthatyou’dsurelybecomingtodayandIwaited.I’mselectingtheAngel’sringstone.Theringsheorderedformeisfinishedandtheysentittokeepmecompany.See?It’sanemerald—justmecolor,LordO’Moresays.”

           Frecklesflourishedhishand.

           “Ain’tthatfine?Nevertooksomuchcomfortwithanythinginmelife.Everycoloroftheoldswampisinit.IaskedtheAngeltohavealittleshamrockleafcutonit,soeverytimeIsawitI’dbethinkingofthe’love,truth,andvalor’ofthatsongshewasteachingme.Ain’tthatabeautifulsong?SomeofthesedaysI’mgoingtomakeitecho.I’malittleafraidtobedoingitwithmevoiceyet,butmeheart’stuningawayoniteveryblessedhour.Willyoubelookingatthesenow?”

           FrecklestiltedatrayofunsetstonesfromPeacock’sthatwouldhaveransomedseveralvaluablekings.HeheldthemtowardMcLean,stirringthemwithhisrightarm.

           “ItellyouI’mgladtoseeyou,sir”hesaid.“ItriedtotellmeunclewhatIwanted,butthisain’tforhimtobemixedupin,anyway,andIdon’tthinkImadeitcleartohim.Icouldn’tseemtosaythewordsIwanted.Icanbetellingyou,sir.”

           McLean’sheartbegantothumpasalover’s.