Веснянки
Chapter IV
Duncan,”saidFreckles,“Idon’tknowwhyyouarebeingsomightygoodtome;butifyouhaveanyjobsatthecabinthatIcoulddoforyouorMrs.Duncan,hoursofftheline,itwouldmakememightyhappy.”
Duncanlaughed.“Yeneednafeelyeareobligedtome,lad.YemaunathinkIcouldtakeahalf-dayoffinthebesthaulingseasonandgototownforboxestorigup,andspendofmylittleforfixtures.”
“IknewMr.McLeansentyou,”saidFreckles,hiseyeswideandbrightwithhappiness.“It’ssogoodofhim.HowIwishIcoulddosomethingthatwouldpleasehimasmuch!”
“Why,Freckles,”saidDuncan,ashekneltandbegancollectinghistools,“IcannaseethatitwillhurtyetobetoldthatyearedoingeverydayathingthatpleasestheBossasmuchasanythingyecoulddo.Ye’rebeinguncommonfaithful,lad,andhonestasoldFatherTime.McLeanistrustingyeashewouldhisownfleshandblood.”
“Oh,Duncan!”criedthehappyboy.“Areyousure?”
“WhyIknow,”answeredDuncan.“Iwadnaventuretosaysoelse.Inthosefirstdayshecautionedmenatotellye,butnowhewadnacare.D’yeken,Freckles,thatsomeofthesingletreesyeareguardingareworthathousanddollars?”
Frecklescaughthisbreathandstoodspeechless.
“Yesee,”saidDuncan,“that’swhytheymaunbewatchedsoclosely.Theytak’,say,forinstance,aburlmaple—bird’seyetheycallitinthefactory,becauseit’sfullo’weeknotsandtwiststhatlookliketheeyeofabird.Theysawitoutinsheetsnomucklethickerthanwritin’paper.
