Limberlost

Freckles

By Gene Stratton-Porter

Presented by Voices of Today

Featuring the voices of Susan Iannucci, David Shears, Sarah Bacaller, Ben Stevens, Linda Barrans, Graham Scott, Marty Krz, John Burlinson. Trisha Rose and Lee Ann Howlett

Freckles is primarily set in the Limberlost Swamp of Indiana, U.S.A., with brief scenes set in Chicago.

Freckles is the only name he has ever known. His right hand is missing at the wrist, and he is haunted by not knowing how it happened. Raised since infancy in a Chicago orphanage, he speaks with a slight Irish accent and sings with a beautiful voice. Now, exhausted after many days of walking, he applies for a job with the Grand Rapids Lumber Company, guarding timber in the Limberlost Swamp from timber thieves.

Along with timber thieves, visitors to the swamp are the Bird Woman, who often comes to photograph birds' nests, and a lovely young woman whom Freckles promptly falls in love with and names his "Swamp Angel". He fears that he is descended from criminals who abused their baby and cut off his hand intentionally and so he cannot be worthy of her. The Swamp Angel declares her love for him and promises that she will find his parents and prove that Freckles comes from "a race of men that have been gentlemen for ages, and couldn't be anything else."

Be sure to follow up by listening to this book with the sequel, The Girl of the Limberlost, also produced by Voices of Today.