章节正文
and clung as if magnetized.
"Yes," said Sarah Duncan. "It's verra plain and simple, but it
juist makes ye feel that it's all of the finest stuff. It's exactly
what I'd call a heavenly hat."
"Sure," said Freckles, "for it's belonging to an Angel!"
Then he told her about the hat and asked her what he should do with it.
"Take it to her, of course!" said Sarah Duncan. "Like it's the only
ane she has and she may need it badly."
Freckles smiled. He had a clear idea about the hat being the only
one the Angel had. However, there was a thing he felt he should do
and wanted to do, but he was not sure.
"You think I might be taking it home?" he said.
"Of course ye must," said Mrs. Duncan. "And without another
hour's delay. It's been here two days noo, and she may want it,
and be too busy or afraid to come."
"But how can I take it?" asked Freckles.
"Gang spinning on your wheel. Ye can do it easy in an hour."
"But in that hour, what if----?"
"Nonsense!" interrupted Sarah Duncan. "Ye've watched that
timber-line until ye're grown fast to it, lad. Give me your boots
and club and I'll gae walk the south end and watch doon the east
and west sides until ye come back."
"Mrs. Duncan! You never would be doing it," cried Freckles.
"Why not?" inquired she.
"But you know you're mortal afraid of snakes and a lot of other
things in the swamp."
"I am afraid of snakes," said Mrs. Duncan, "but likely they've gone
into the swamp this hot weather. I'll juist stay on the trail and
watch, and ye might hurry the least bit. The day's so bright it
feels like storm. I can put the bairns on the woodpile to play
until I get back. Ye gang awa and take the blessed little angel her
beautiful hat."
"Are you sure it will be all right?" urged Freckles. "Do you think
if Mr. McLean came he would care?"
"Na," said Mrs. Duncan; "I dinna. If ye and me agree that a thing
ought to be done, and I watch in your place, why, it's bound to be
all right with McLean. Let me pin the hat in a paper, and ye jump
on your wheel and gang flying. Ought ye put on your Sabbath-day clothes?"
Freckles shook his head. He knew what he should do, but there was
no use in taking time to try to explain it to Mrs. Duncan while he
was so hurried. He exchanged his wading-boots for shoes, gave her
his club, and went spinning toward town. He knew very well where
the Angel lived. He had seen her home many times, and he passed it
again without even raising his eyes from the street, steering
straight for her father's place of business.
Carrying the hat, Freckles passed a long line of clerks, and at the
door of the private office asked to see the proprietor. When he had
waited a moment, a tall, spare, keen-eyed man faced him, and in
brisk, nervous tones asked: "How can I serve you, sir?"
Freckles handed him the package and answered, "By delivering to
your daughter this hat, which she was after leaving at me place the
other day, when she went away in a hurry. And by saying to her and
the Bird Woman that I'm more thankful than I'll be having words to
express for the brave things they was doing for me. I'm McLean's
Limberlost guard, sir."
"Why don't you take it yourself?" questioned the Man of Affairs.
Freckles' clear gray eyes met those of the Angel's father squarely, and
he asked: "If you were in my place, would you take it to her yourself?"
"No, I would not," said that gentleman quickly.
"Then why ask why I did not?" came Freckles' lamb-like query.
"Bless me!" said the Angel's father. He stared at the package, then
at the lifted chin of the boy, and then at the package again, and
muttered, "Excuse me!"
Freckles bowed.
"It would be favoring me greatly if you would deliver the hat and
the message. Good morning, sir," and he turned away.
"One minute," said the Angel's father. "Suppose I give you permission
to return this hat in person and make your own acknowledgments."
Freckles stood one moment thinking intently, and then he lifted
those eyes of unswerving truth and asked: "Why should you, sir?
You are kind, indade, to mention it, and it's thanking you I am for
your good intintions, but my wanting to go or your being willing to
have me ain't proving that your daughter would be wanting me or
care to bother with me."
The Angel's father looked keenly into the face of this
extraordinary young man, for he found it to his liking.
"There's one other thing I meant to say," said Freckles. "Every day
I see something, and at times a lot of things, that I think the
Bird Woman would be wanting pictures of badly, if she knew.
You might be speaking of it to her, and if she'd want me to,
I can send her word when I find things she wouldn't likely
get elsewhere."
"If that's the case," said the Angel's father, "and you feel under
obligations for her assistance the other day, you can discharge
them in that way. She is spending all her time in the fields and
woods searching for subjects. If you run across things, perhaps
rarer than she may find, about your work, it would save her the
time she spends searching for subjects, and she could work in
security under your protection. By all means let her know if you
find subjects you think she could use, and we will do anything we
can for you, if you will give her what help you can and see that
she is as safe as possible."
"It's hungry for human beings I am," said Freckles, "and it's like
Heaven to me to have them come. Of course, I'll be telling or
sending her word every time me work can spare me. Anything I can do
it would make me uncommon happy, but"--again truth had to be told,
because it was Freckles who was speaking--"when it comes to
protecting them, I'd risk me life, to be sure, but even that
mightn't do any good in some cases. There are many dangers to be
reckoned with in the swamp, sir, that call for every person to
look sharp. If there wasn't really thieving to guard against, why,
McLean wouldn't need be paying out good money for a guard. I'd love
them to be coming, and I'll do all I can, but you must be told that
there's danger of them running into timberthieves again any day, sir."
"Yes," said the Angel's father, "and I suppose there's danger of
the earth opening up and swallowing the town any day, but I'm
damned if I quit business for fear it will, and the Bird Woman
won't, either. Everyone knows her and her work, and there is no
danger in the world of anyone in any way molesting her, even if he
were stealing a few of McLean's gold-plated trees. She's as safe
in the Limberlost as she is at home, so far as timberthieves
are concerned. All I am ever uneasy about are the snakes, poison-
vines, and insects; and those are risks she must run anywhere.
You need not hesitate a minute about that. I shall be glad to tell
them what you wish. Thank you very much, and good day, sir."
There was no way in which Freckles could know it, but by following
his best instincts and being what he conceived a gentleman should
be, he surprised the Man of Affairs into thinking of him and seeing
his face over his books many times that morning; whereas, if he had
gone to the Angel as he had longed to do, her father never would
have given him a second thought.
On the street he drew a deep breath. How had he acquitted himself?
He only knew that he had lived up to his best impulse, and that is
all anyone can do. He glanced over his wheel to see that it was all
right, and just as he stepped to the curb to mount he heard a voice
that thrilled him through and through: "Freckles! Oh Freckles!"
The Angel separated from a group of laughing, sweet-faced girls and
came hurrying to him. She was in snowy white--a quaint little
frock, with a marvel of soft lace around her throat and wrists.
Through the sheer sleeves of it her beautiful, rounded arms showed
distinctly, and it was cut just to the base of her perfect neck.
On her head was a pure white creation of fancy braid, with folds on
folds of tulle, soft and silken as cobwebs, lining the brim; while
a mass of white roses clustered against the gold of her hair, crept
around the crown, and fell in a riot to her shoulders at the back.
There were gleams of gold with settings of blue on her fingers, and
altogether she was the daintiest, sweetest sight he ever had seen.
Freckles, standing on the curb, forgot himself in his cotton shirt,
corduroys, and his belt to which his wire-cutter and pliers were
hanging, and gazed as a man gazes when first he sees the woman he adores
with all her charms enhanced by appropriate and beautiful clothing.
"Oh Freckles," she cried as she came to him. "I was wondering about
you the other day. Do you know I never saw you in town before.
You watch that old line so closely! Why did you come? Is there
any trouble? Are you just starting to the Limberlost?"
"I came to bring your hat," said Freckles. "You forgot it in the
rush the other day. I have left it with your father, and a message
trying to ixpriss the gratitude of me for how you and the Bird
Woman were for helping me out."
The Angel nodded gravely, then Freckles saw that he had done the
proper thing in going to her father. His heart bounded until it
jarred his body, for she was saying that she scarcely could wait for
the time to come for the next picture of the Little Chicken series.
"I want to hear the remainder of that song, and I hadn't even
begun seeing your room yet," she complained. "As for singing,
if you can sing like that every day, I never can get enough of it.
I wonder if I couldn't bring my banjo and some of the songs I
like best. I'll play and you sing, and we'll put the birds out
of commission."
Freckles stood on the curb with drooped eyes, for he felt that if
he lifted them the tumult of tender adoration in them would show
and frighten her.
"I was afraid your ixperience the other day would scare you so that
you'd never be coming again," he found himself saying.
The Angel laughed gaily.
"Did I seem scared?" she questioned.
"No," said Freckles, "you did not."
"Oh, I just enjoyed that," she cried. "Those hateful, stealing
old things! I had a big notion to pink one of them, but I thought
maybe someway it would be best for you that I shouldn't. They needed it.
That didn't scare me; and as for the Bird Woman, she's accustomed
to finding snakes, tramps, cross dogs, sheep, cattle, and goodness
knows what! You can't frighten her when she's after a picture.
Did they come back?"
"No," said Freckles. "The gang got there a little after noon and
took out the tree, but I must tell you, and you must tell the Bird
Woman, that there's no doubt but they will be coming back, and they
will have to make it before long now, for it's soon the gang will
be there to work on the swamp."
"Oh, what a shame!" cried the Angel. "They'll clear out roads, cut
down the beautiful trees, and tear up everything. They'll drive
away the birds and spoil the cathedral. When they have done their
worst, then all these mills close here will follow in and take out
the cheap timber. Then the landowners will dig a few ditches, build
some fires, and in two summers more the Limberlost will be in corn
and potatoes."
They looked at each other, and groaned despairingly in unison.
"You like it, too," said Freckles.
"Yes," said the Angel, "I love it. Your room is a little piece
right out of the heart of fairyland, and the cathedral is God's
work, not yours. You only found it and opened the door after He had
it completed. The birds, flowers, and vines are all so lovely.
The Bird Woman says it is really a fact that the mallows, foxfire,
iris, and lilies are larger and of richer coloring there than in
the remainder of the country. She says it's because of the rich
loam and muck. I hate seeing the swamp torn up, and to you it will
be like losing your best friend; won't it?"
"Something like," said Freckles. "Still, I've the Limberlost in me
heart so that all of it will be real to me while I live, no matter
what they do to it. I'm glad past telling if you will be coming a
few more times, at least until the gang arrives. Past that time I
"Yes," said Sarah Duncan. "It's verra plain and simple, but it
juist makes ye feel that it's all of the finest stuff. It's exactly
what I'd call a heavenly hat."
"Sure," said Freckles, "for it's belonging to an Angel!"
Then he told her about the hat and asked her what he should do with it.
"Take it to her, of course!" said Sarah Duncan. "Like it's the only
ane she has and she may need it badly."
Freckles smiled. He had a clear idea about the hat being the only
one the Angel had. However, there was a thing he felt he should do
and wanted to do, but he was not sure.
"You think I might be taking it home?" he said.
"Of course ye must," said Mrs. Duncan. "And without another
hour's delay. It's been here two days noo, and she may want it,
and be too busy or afraid to come."
"But how can I take it?" asked Freckles.
"Gang spinning on your wheel. Ye can do it easy in an hour."
"But in that hour, what if----?"
"Nonsense!" interrupted Sarah Duncan. "Ye've watched that
timber-line until ye're grown fast to it, lad. Give me your boots
and club and I'll gae walk the south end and watch doon the east
and west sides until ye come back."
"Mrs. Duncan! You never would be doing it," cried Freckles.
"Why not?" inquired she.
"But you know you're mortal afraid of snakes and a lot of other
things in the swamp."
"I am afraid of snakes," said Mrs. Duncan, "but likely they've gone
into the swamp this hot weather. I'll juist stay on the trail and
watch, and ye might hurry the least bit. The day's so bright it
feels like storm. I can put the bairns on the woodpile to play
until I get back. Ye gang awa and take the blessed little angel her
beautiful hat."
"Are you sure it will be all right?" urged Freckles. "Do you think
if Mr. McLean came he would care?"
"Na," said Mrs. Duncan; "I dinna. If ye and me agree that a thing
ought to be done, and I watch in your place, why, it's bound to be
all right with McLean. Let me pin the hat in a paper, and ye jump
on your wheel and gang flying. Ought ye put on your Sabbath-day clothes?"
Freckles shook his head. He knew what he should do, but there was
no use in taking time to try to explain it to Mrs. Duncan while he
was so hurried. He exchanged his wading-boots for shoes, gave her
his club, and went spinning toward town. He knew very well where
the Angel lived. He had seen her home many times, and he passed it
again without even raising his eyes from the street, steering
straight for her father's place of business.
Carrying the hat, Freckles passed a long line of clerks, and at the
door of the private office asked to see the proprietor. When he had
waited a moment, a tall, spare, keen-eyed man faced him, and in
brisk, nervous tones asked: "How can I serve you, sir?"
Freckles handed him the package and answered, "By delivering to
your daughter this hat, which she was after leaving at me place the
other day, when she went away in a hurry. And by saying to her and
the Bird Woman that I'm more thankful than I'll be having words to
express for the brave things they was doing for me. I'm McLean's
Limberlost guard, sir."
"Why don't you take it yourself?" questioned the Man of Affairs.
Freckles' clear gray eyes met those of the Angel's father squarely, and
he asked: "If you were in my place, would you take it to her yourself?"
"No, I would not," said that gentleman quickly.
"Then why ask why I did not?" came Freckles' lamb-like query.
"Bless me!" said the Angel's father. He stared at the package, then
at the lifted chin of the boy, and then at the package again, and
muttered, "Excuse me!"
Freckles bowed.
"It would be favoring me greatly if you would deliver the hat and
the message. Good morning, sir," and he turned away.
"One minute," said the Angel's father. "Suppose I give you permission
to return this hat in person and make your own acknowledgments."
Freckles stood one moment thinking intently, and then he lifted
those eyes of unswerving truth and asked: "Why should you, sir?
You are kind, indade, to mention it, and it's thanking you I am for
your good intintions, but my wanting to go or your being willing to
have me ain't proving that your daughter would be wanting me or
care to bother with me."
The Angel's father looked keenly into the face of this
extraordinary young man, for he found it to his liking.
"There's one other thing I meant to say," said Freckles. "Every day
I see something, and at times a lot of things, that I think the
Bird Woman would be wanting pictures of badly, if she knew.
You might be speaking of it to her, and if she'd want me to,
I can send her word when I find things she wouldn't likely
get elsewhere."
"If that's the case," said the Angel's father, "and you feel under
obligations for her assistance the other day, you can discharge
them in that way. She is spending all her time in the fields and
woods searching for subjects. If you run across things, perhaps
rarer than she may find, about your work, it would save her the
time she spends searching for subjects, and she could work in
security under your protection. By all means let her know if you
find subjects you think she could use, and we will do anything we
can for you, if you will give her what help you can and see that
she is as safe as possible."
"It's hungry for human beings I am," said Freckles, "and it's like
Heaven to me to have them come. Of course, I'll be telling or
sending her word every time me work can spare me. Anything I can do
it would make me uncommon happy, but"--again truth had to be told,
because it was Freckles who was speaking--"when it comes to
protecting them, I'd risk me life, to be sure, but even that
mightn't do any good in some cases. There are many dangers to be
reckoned with in the swamp, sir, that call for every person to
look sharp. If there wasn't really thieving to guard against, why,
McLean wouldn't need be paying out good money for a guard. I'd love
them to be coming, and I'll do all I can, but you must be told that
there's danger of them running into timberthieves again any day, sir."
"Yes," said the Angel's father, "and I suppose there's danger of
the earth opening up and swallowing the town any day, but I'm
damned if I quit business for fear it will, and the Bird Woman
won't, either. Everyone knows her and her work, and there is no
danger in the world of anyone in any way molesting her, even if he
were stealing a few of McLean's gold-plated trees. She's as safe
in the Limberlost as she is at home, so far as timberthieves
are concerned. All I am ever uneasy about are the snakes, poison-
vines, and insects; and those are risks she must run anywhere.
You need not hesitate a minute about that. I shall be glad to tell
them what you wish. Thank you very much, and good day, sir."
There was no way in which Freckles could know it, but by following
his best instincts and being what he conceived a gentleman should
be, he surprised the Man of Affairs into thinking of him and seeing
his face over his books many times that morning; whereas, if he had
gone to the Angel as he had longed to do, her father never would
have given him a second thought.
On the street he drew a deep breath. How had he acquitted himself?
He only knew that he had lived up to his best impulse, and that is
all anyone can do. He glanced over his wheel to see that it was all
right, and just as he stepped to the curb to mount he heard a voice
that thrilled him through and through: "Freckles! Oh Freckles!"
The Angel separated from a group of laughing, sweet-faced girls and
came hurrying to him. She was in snowy white--a quaint little
frock, with a marvel of soft lace around her throat and wrists.
Through the sheer sleeves of it her beautiful, rounded arms showed
distinctly, and it was cut just to the base of her perfect neck.
On her head was a pure white creation of fancy braid, with folds on
folds of tulle, soft and silken as cobwebs, lining the brim; while
a mass of white roses clustered against the gold of her hair, crept
around the crown, and fell in a riot to her shoulders at the back.
There were gleams of gold with settings of blue on her fingers, and
altogether she was the daintiest, sweetest sight he ever had seen.
Freckles, standing on the curb, forgot himself in his cotton shirt,
corduroys, and his belt to which his wire-cutter and pliers were
hanging, and gazed as a man gazes when first he sees the woman he adores
with all her charms enhanced by appropriate and beautiful clothing.
"Oh Freckles," she cried as she came to him. "I was wondering about
you the other day. Do you know I never saw you in town before.
You watch that old line so closely! Why did you come? Is there
any trouble? Are you just starting to the Limberlost?"
"I came to bring your hat," said Freckles. "You forgot it in the
rush the other day. I have left it with your father, and a message
trying to ixpriss the gratitude of me for how you and the Bird
Woman were for helping me out."
The Angel nodded gravely, then Freckles saw that he had done the
proper thing in going to her father. His heart bounded until it
jarred his body, for she was saying that she scarcely could wait for
the time to come for the next picture of the Little Chicken series.
"I want to hear the remainder of that song, and I hadn't even
begun seeing your room yet," she complained. "As for singing,
if you can sing like that every day, I never can get enough of it.
I wonder if I couldn't bring my banjo and some of the songs I
like best. I'll play and you sing, and we'll put the birds out
of commission."
Freckles stood on the curb with drooped eyes, for he felt that if
he lifted them the tumult of tender adoration in them would show
and frighten her.
"I was afraid your ixperience the other day would scare you so that
you'd never be coming again," he found himself saying.
The Angel laughed gaily.
"Did I seem scared?" she questioned.
"No," said Freckles, "you did not."
"Oh, I just enjoyed that," she cried. "Those hateful, stealing
old things! I had a big notion to pink one of them, but I thought
maybe someway it would be best for you that I shouldn't. They needed it.
That didn't scare me; and as for the Bird Woman, she's accustomed
to finding snakes, tramps, cross dogs, sheep, cattle, and goodness
knows what! You can't frighten her when she's after a picture.
Did they come back?"
"No," said Freckles. "The gang got there a little after noon and
took out the tree, but I must tell you, and you must tell the Bird
Woman, that there's no doubt but they will be coming back, and they
will have to make it before long now, for it's soon the gang will
be there to work on the swamp."
"Oh, what a shame!" cried the Angel. "They'll clear out roads, cut
down the beautiful trees, and tear up everything. They'll drive
away the birds and spoil the cathedral. When they have done their
worst, then all these mills close here will follow in and take out
the cheap timber. Then the landowners will dig a few ditches, build
some fires, and in two summers more the Limberlost will be in corn
and potatoes."
They looked at each other, and groaned despairingly in unison.
"You like it, too," said Freckles.
"Yes," said the Angel, "I love it. Your room is a little piece
right out of the heart of fairyland, and the cathedral is God's
work, not yours. You only found it and opened the door after He had
it completed. The birds, flowers, and vines are all so lovely.
The Bird Woman says it is really a fact that the mallows, foxfire,
iris, and lilies are larger and of richer coloring there than in
the remainder of the country. She says it's because of the rich
loam and muck. I hate seeing the swamp torn up, and to you it will
be like losing your best friend; won't it?"
"Something like," said Freckles. "Still, I've the Limberlost in me
heart so that all of it will be real to me while I live, no matter
what they do to it. I'm glad past telling if you will be coming a
few more times, at least until the gang arrives. Past that time I
- nervous [´nə:vəs]
a.神经的；神经过敏的 (初中英语单词) - package [´pækidʒ] n.包(裹) vt.组装 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- bother [´bɔðə] v.打扰 n.麻烦(事) (初中英语单词)
- keenly [´ki:nli] ad.敏锐地；强烈地 (初中英语单词)
- assistance [ə´sistəns] n.协作；援助；帮助 (初中英语单词)
- protection [prə´tekʃən] n.警戒；护照；通行证 (初中英语单词)
- running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
- timber [´timbə] n.木材；木料；横梁 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- everyone [´evriwʌn] pron.=everybody 每人 (初中英语单词)
- hesitate [´heziteit] vi.犹豫，踌躇 (初中英语单词)
- whereas [weər´æz] conj.鉴于；因此；而 (初中英语单词)
- breath [breθ] n.呼吸；气息 (初中英语单词)
- impulse [´impʌls] n.推动(力)；冲动；刺激 (初中英语单词)
- marvel [´mɑ:vəl] n.令人惊异的事；奇迹 (初中英语单词)
- throat [θrəut] n.咽喉；嗓子；出入口 (初中英语单词)
- creation [kri´eiʃən] n.创作；作品；创造 (初中英语单词)
- standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)
- gratitude [´grætitju:d] n.感激，感谢 (初中英语单词)
- gravely [´greivli] ad.庄重地，严肃地 (初中英语单词)
- frighten [´fraitn] vt.吓唬，使惊惧 (初中英语单词)
- cathedral [kə´θi:drəl] n.大教堂 (初中英语单词)
- heavenly [´hevənli] a.天的，天空的 (高中英语单词)
- spinning [´spiniŋ] n.纺织 a.纺织品的 (高中英语单词)
- mortal [´mɔ:tl] a.致命的 n.凡人 (高中英语单词)
- hurried [´hʌrid] a.仓促的，慌忙的 (高中英语单词)
- proprietor [prə´praiətə] n.所有人；业主；经营者 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- thankful [´θæŋkfəl] a.感激的；欣慰的 (高中英语单词)
- concerned [kən´sə:nd] a.有关的；担心的 (高中英语单词)
- uneasy [ʌn´i:zi] a.不安的；不自在的 (高中英语单词)
- quaint [kweint] a.离奇的；奇妙的 (高中英语单词)
- silken [´silkən] a.丝制的；柔软光滑的 (高中英语单词)
- lining [´lainiŋ] n.衬里；衬料 (高中英语单词)
- appropriate [ə´prəupri-it, ə´prəuprieit] a.适宜的 vt.私占；拨给 (高中英语单词)
- remainder [ri´meində] n.剩余物；残余部分 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- tumult [´tju:mʌlt, ´tu:-] n.喧哗；激昂；烦乱 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- blessed [´blesid] a.享福的；神圣的 (英语四级单词)
- squarely [´skwɛəli] ad.成方形地；正直地 (英语四级单词)
- intently [in´tentli] ad.专心地 (英语四级单词)
- uncommon [ʌn´kɔmən] a.非常的，非凡的，罕见的 (英语四级单词)
- thieves [θi:vz] thief的复数 (英语四级单词)
- hateful [´heitfəl] a.可恨的，可憎的 (英语四级单词)
- fairyland [´fɛərilænd] n.仙境，奇境 (英语四级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- wanting [´wɔntiŋ, wɑ:n-] a.短缺的；不足的 (英语六级单词)
- speaking [´spi:kiŋ] n.说话 a.发言的 (英语六级单词)
- adoration [,ædə´reiʃən] n.崇拜，敬爱 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
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