Веснянки
Chapter III
Yousee,I’veseensuchalittlebitoflovinginmelife.YoueasilycanbeunderstandingthatattheHomeitwaseverydaytheoldstoryofneglectanddesertion.Alwayspeoplethatdidn’tevencareenoughfortheirchildrentokeepthem,soyousee,sir,Ihadtolikehimfortryingsohardtomakeherknowhowhelovedher.Ofcourse,they’reonlybirds,butiftheyarecaringforeachotherlikethat,why,it’sjustthesameaspeople,ain’tit?”
Frecklesliftedhisbrave,steadyeyestotheBoss.
“Ifanybodylovedmelikethat,Mr.McLean,Iwouldn’tbespendinganytimeonhowtheylookedormoved.AllI’dbethinkingofwouldbehowtheyfelttowardme.Iftheywillstay,I’llbecaringasmuchforthemasanychickensIhave.IfIdidlaughatthemIthoughthewasjustfine!”
ThefaceofMcLeanwasastudy;butthehonesteyesoftheboyweresocompellingthathefoundhimselfanswering:“Youareright,Freckles.He’sagentleman,isn’the?Andtheonlyrealchickenyouhave.Ofcoursehe’llremain!TheLimberlostwillbeparadiseforhisfamily.Andnow,Freckles,whathasbeenthetroubleallspring?Youhavedoneyourworkasfaithfullyasanyonecouldask,butIcan’thelpseeingthatthereissomethingwrong.Areyoutiredofyourjob?”
“Iloveit,”answeredFreckles.“Itwillalmostbreakmeheartwhenthegangcomesandbeginstearinguptheswampandscaringawaymechickens.”
“Thenwhatisthetrouble?”insistedMcLean.
“Ithink,sir,it’sbeenbooks,”answeredFreckles.“Yousee,Ididn’trealizeitmeselfuntilthebullfrogtoldmethismorning.
