Freckles

In this companion book to the much-loved classic A Girl of the Limberlost, 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 (1863–1924) wrote several bestselling novels and was estimated to have had 50 million readers around the world. She used her prominent position to support conservation of Limberlost Swamp and other Indiana wetlands. Stratton-Porter was also one of the first women to form a movie studio and production company, and her Limberlost novels have been adapted to film many times.