Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/111

 "Perhaps you would and perhaps you wouldn't," returned Freckles thoughtfully. He was apparently looking at the amazing stunts of the trapeze performers, but he was not seeing them. Instead, he was seeing the little bedroom at the poor-farm where he had always slept, as far back as he could remember.

"If there is anything troubling you, Freckles, you had better tell Pickles and me," said Beany at length. "We are your friends, and we will do what we can."

"No, it ain't anything special," replied Freckles, "but it is this way. I don't suppose I can make you fellers understand anyhow. You see, you have got homes and I haven't. So when you haven't got any home, almost any place where you stay for a spell gets to be home. It don't matter if people are mean to you, and you say you would like to run away and never see them again. You see, fellers, I haven't ever had a mother. But I can't help thinking how, when I was a little chap,