Веснянки

           Ihadn’teverevenheardaboutaplacelikethis.Anyway,Iwasn’tunderstandinghowitwouldbe,ifIhad.Beingamongthesebeautifulthingseveryday,Igotsoanxiousliketobeknowingandnamingthem,thatitgottoeatingintomeandwentandmademenearsick,whenIwaswellasIcouldbe.Ofcourse,Ilearnedtoread,write,andfiguresomeatschool,buttherewasnothingthere,orinanyofthecitythatIevergottosee,thatwouldmakeafellowevenbedreamingofsuchinterestingthingsastherearehere.I’veseentheparks—butgoodLord,theyain’tevenbeginningtobeinitwiththeLimberlost!It’sallnewandstrangetome.Idon’tknowathingaboutanyofit.Thebullfrogtoldmeto’findout,’plainasday,andbooksaretheonlyway;ain’tthey?”

           “Ofcourse,”saidMcLean,astonishedathimselfforhisheartfeltrelief.HehadnotguesseduntilthatminutewhatitwouldhavemeanttohimtohaveFrecklesgiveup.“Youknowenoughtostudyoutwhatyouwantyourself,ifyouhavethebooks;don’tyou?”

           “IamprettysureIdo,”saidFreckles.“IlearnedallI’dthechanceatintheHome,andmeschoolingwasgoodasfarasitwent.Wouldn’tletyougopastfourteen,youknow.Ialwaysdidmesumsperfect,andlovedmehistorybooks.Ihadthemalmostbyheart.Inevercouldgetmegrammartosuitthem.Theysaiditwasjustborninmetogowrongtalking,andifithadn’tbeenIsupposeIwouldhavepickeditupfromtheotherchildren;butI’dthebestvoiceofanyofthemintheHomeoratschool.Icouldknockthemalloutsinging.