Freckles

Set in the Limberlost Swamp area of Indiana, “Freckles” is American writer and naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter’s 1904 novel about the titular character, a one-handed adult orphan who takes a job guarding timber in the swamp. Freckles has lived all his life in a Chicago orphanage and has been missing his right hand as long as he can remember. Now an adult, he is hired on by the Grand Rapids lumber company to guard their valuable timber in the Limberlost Swamp. Freckles has lived his whole life in the city and is at first frightened and intimidated by this strange and wild place. Yet, he is eager to learn about his new home and he soon becomes enchanted by the beauty of the wildlife and plants in the swamp. Freckles also falls in love with a nameless young woman that he meets in the Limberlost and whom the reader knows only as “The Swamp Angel”. Freckles is challenged by the mystery of his past and parentage and feels he is not worthy of love, but he proves himself to be an honorable and kind man. In this heart-warming and charming novel, Freckles finds his true home and learns the priceless value of courage and kindness. This edition includes a biographical afterword.