Freckles

In 'Freckles' by Gene Stratton-Porter, an orphaned teenager longs to find his place in the world. Freckles was discovered on the doorstep of a Chicago orphanage, badly beaten and missing a hand. He yearns for the fulfillment of useful work, and at Indiana's Limberlost Swamp, his grit and determination win him the difficult, dangerous job of guarding a valuable stand of timber. Faithful and brave in his daily tasks, Freckles comes to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the natural world amid the wetlands' sights, sounds, and silences. As nature works miracles in the boy's lonely, starved heart, Freckles meets a kind and gentle girl who collects specimens for a wildlife photographer. Despite his growing love for his Swamp Angel, Freckles feels himself far below her station until the opportunity arises for him to prove his true worth. Gene Stratton-Porter was an American author, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer, and one of the earliest women to form a movie studio and production company. She wrote some of the best-selling novels and well-received columns in magazines of the day.