Веснянки

           Hefoundthepairthemiddleofoneforenoonontheelmwherehehadwatchedtheirlove-making.Thebigblackchickenwasfeedinghismate;soitwasprovedthattheywereapair,theywerebothalive,andundoubtedlyshewasbrooding.AfterthatFreckles’nest-huntingcontinuedwithrenewedzeal,butashehadnoideawheretolookandDuncancouldoffernohelpfulsuggestion,thenestwasnonearertobeingfound.

           Comingfromalongdayonthetrail,FrecklessawDuncan’schildrenawaitinghimmuchclosertheswalethantheyusuallyventured,andfromtheirwildgesturesheknewthatsomethinghadhappened.Hebegantorun,butthecrythatreachedhimwas:“Thebookshavecome!”

           Howtheyhurried!Frecklesliftedtheyoungesttohisshoulder,thesecondtookhisclubanddinnerpail,andwhentheyreachedMrs.Duncantheyfoundheratworkonabigbox.Shehadloosenedthelid,andthenshelaughinglysatonit.

           “Yecannahaveapeepinhereuntilyehavewashedandeatensupper,”shesaid.“It’sallreadyonthetable.Anceyebeginonthis,ye’llnobewillin’totak’yournoseo’ittillbedtime,andIwillnagetmyworkdonethenicht.We’veeatenlongago.”

           Itwasdifficultwork,butFrecklessmiledbravely.Hemadehimselfneat,swallowedafewbites,thencamesoeagerlythatMrs.Duncanyielded,althoughshesaidsheverywellknewallthetimethathissupperwouldbespoiled.

           Liftingthelid,theyremovedthepackingandfoundinthatboxbooksonbirds,trees,flowers,moths,andbutterflies.TherewasalsoonecontainingFreckles’bullfrog,truetolife.