Question
1 As Freckles crossed the bridge into the Limberlost, he might have been mistaken for a beggar, but he was genuinely seeking work.
2 Long before he came in sight of the lumber camp, he could hear the cheery voices of the men and smell the tempting odors of cooking food. A feeling of friendlessness swept over him in a sickening wave. The scene was intensely attractive as Freckles approached, with the fire crackling merrily, wreathing tongues of flame wrapping around big black kettles, and the cook plunging his testing fork, gusts of savory odors escaping.
3 “I want to speak with the Boss,” he said.
4 The cook glanced at him and answered carelessly, “He can’t use you.”
5 Color flooded Freckles’ face, but he said simply, “If you would please point him out, we will give him a chance to do his own talking.”
6 With a shrug of astonishment, the cook led the way to where a broad, square-shouldered man was bending over some account books.
7 “Mr. McLean, here’s another man wanting to be taken on the crew, I suppose,” he said.
8 “All right,” came the cheery answer, “I never needed a good man more than I do just now.”
9 “No use of your bothering with this fellow,” volunteered the cook, and the flush on Freckles’ face burned deeper.
10 “That will do, Sears,” came the voice of the Boss sharply. “I will interview my man when I finish this report.”
11 The men of McLean’s camps had never known him to be in a hurry or to lose his temper; discipline was inflexible, but the Boss was always kind. He shared camp life with his crew, and the only visible signs of his wealth consisted of a big, shimmering diamond stone that glittered on one of his fingers and the beautiful thoroughbred mare he rode across the country on business.
12 No man of McLean’s crews could honestly say that he had ever been overworked or underpaid; the Boss never demanded any respect from his men, yet so intense was his personality that no man had ever attempted disrespect.
13 When McLean finished his report, he faced a young man, not yet twenty, tall, spare, heavily framed, freckled, and red-haired, dressed in the roughest of farm clothing and seemed tired to the point of falling over.
14 “You are looking for work?” questioned McLean.
15 “Yes,” answered Freckles.
16 “I am very sorry,” said the Boss with genuine sympathy in his voice, “but there is only one man I want at present—a hardy, big fellow with a stout heart and a strong body. I hoped you would do, but I am afraid you are too young and scarcely strong enough.”
17 Freckles stood, hat in hand, watching McLean.
18 “And what did you think I might be doing?” he asked.
19 “It’s no child’s job,” answered McLean. “I am the field manager of a big lumber company; I must put this property in the hands of a reliable, brave, strong man who will guard it every hour of the day and sleep with one eye open at night. I shall require the entire trail length to be walked at least twice daily to ensure no one has been trespassing.”
20 Freckles was leaning forward, absorbing every word with intense eagerness.
21 “But why wouldn’t that be the finest job in the world for me?” he pleaded. “I am never sick, I could walk the trail twice, three times every day, and I’d be watching sharp all the while.”
22 “It’s because you are scarcely more than a boy, and this will be a trying job for a work-hardened man,” answered McLean. “Worst of all, one of my previous employees, John Carter, has sworn to steal these trees at all costs, and he is a man that even the strongest would not care to meet.”
23 “But if he came to steal trees, wouldn’t he bring men to help, and that all anyone could do would be to watch and alert you?” asked the boy.
24 “Yes,” replied McLean.
25 “Then why couldn’t I watch just as closely and warn you just as speedily as an older, stronger man?” asked Freckles.
26 “Why, by George, you could!” exclaimed McLean. “I suppose the size of the man I hire would be half so important as his grit and faithfulness, come to think of it; what is your name?”
27 “Freckles!” he responded.
28 “Good enough for a nickname,” laughed McLean, “but I scarcely can put ‘Freckles’ on the company’s books; tell me your name.”
29 “I haven’t any other name,” replied the boy. “That is the one they assigned me at the home for children who don’t have parents. But if you give me a job where I can earn food, clothes, and a place to sleep, if I can have a boss to belong to, I will do precisely what you tell me no matter what.”
30 He spoke so convincingly that McLean believed him and found himself answering, “Very well, I will tell you what we will do. My father was my hero, and I loved him more than anyone; he went out five years ago, but I firmly believe he would have been proud to leave you his name. If I give to you the name of my nearest kin and the man I loved best—will that do?”
31 Freckles’ head dropped, and big tears splashed on the soiled shirt.
32 “All right,” McLlean said. “I will write it on the roll—James Ross McLean.”
33 “Thank you mightily,” Freckles choked out, “That makes me feel almost as if I belong already.”
34 “You do,” said McLean. “Now, come and take a bath, have some supper, and go to bed.”
35 As Freckles followed his new boss, his heart and soul sang joyfully.
Why does the cook assume Freckles is of no use to McLean?
He does not like bringing in outsiders.
He distrusts Freckles’ reckless attitude.
He makes judgments based on Freckles’ age and size.
He wants the position for which Freckles is interviewing.
2 Long before he came in sight of the lumber camp, he could hear the cheery voices of the men and smell the tempting odors of cooking food. A feeling of friendlessness swept over him in a sickening wave. The scene was intensely attractive as Freckles approached, with the fire crackling merrily, wreathing tongues of flame wrapping around big black kettles, and the cook plunging his testing fork, gusts of savory odors escaping.
3 “I want to speak with the Boss,” he said.
4 The cook glanced at him and answered carelessly, “He can’t use you.”
5 Color flooded Freckles’ face, but he said simply, “If you would please point him out, we will give him a chance to do his own talking.”
6 With a shrug of astonishment, the cook led the way to where a broad, square-shouldered man was bending over some account books.
7 “Mr. McLean, here’s another man wanting to be taken on the crew, I suppose,” he said.
8 “All right,” came the cheery answer, “I never needed a good man more than I do just now.”
9 “No use of your bothering with this fellow,” volunteered the cook, and the flush on Freckles’ face burned deeper.
10 “That will do, Sears,” came the voice of the Boss sharply. “I will interview my man when I finish this report.”
11 The men of McLean’s camps had never known him to be in a hurry or to lose his temper; discipline was inflexible, but the Boss was always kind. He shared camp life with his crew, and the only visible signs of his wealth consisted of a big, shimmering diamond stone that glittered on one of his fingers and the beautiful thoroughbred mare he rode across the country on business.
12 No man of McLean’s crews could honestly say that he had ever been overworked or underpaid; the Boss never demanded any respect from his men, yet so intense was his personality that no man had ever attempted disrespect.
13 When McLean finished his report, he faced a young man, not yet twenty, tall, spare, heavily framed, freckled, and red-haired, dressed in the roughest of farm clothing and seemed tired to the point of falling over.
14 “You are looking for work?” questioned McLean.
15 “Yes,” answered Freckles.
16 “I am very sorry,” said the Boss with genuine sympathy in his voice, “but there is only one man I want at present—a hardy, big fellow with a stout heart and a strong body. I hoped you would do, but I am afraid you are too young and scarcely strong enough.”
17 Freckles stood, hat in hand, watching McLean.
18 “And what did you think I might be doing?” he asked.
19 “It’s no child’s job,” answered McLean. “I am the field manager of a big lumber company; I must put this property in the hands of a reliable, brave, strong man who will guard it every hour of the day and sleep with one eye open at night. I shall require the entire trail length to be walked at least twice daily to ensure no one has been trespassing.”
20 Freckles was leaning forward, absorbing every word with intense eagerness.
21 “But why wouldn’t that be the finest job in the world for me?” he pleaded. “I am never sick, I could walk the trail twice, three times every day, and I’d be watching sharp all the while.”
22 “It’s because you are scarcely more than a boy, and this will be a trying job for a work-hardened man,” answered McLean. “Worst of all, one of my previous employees, John Carter, has sworn to steal these trees at all costs, and he is a man that even the strongest would not care to meet.”
23 “But if he came to steal trees, wouldn’t he bring men to help, and that all anyone could do would be to watch and alert you?” asked the boy.
24 “Yes,” replied McLean.
25 “Then why couldn’t I watch just as closely and warn you just as speedily as an older, stronger man?” asked Freckles.
26 “Why, by George, you could!” exclaimed McLean. “I suppose the size of the man I hire would be half so important as his grit and faithfulness, come to think of it; what is your name?”
27 “Freckles!” he responded.
28 “Good enough for a nickname,” laughed McLean, “but I scarcely can put ‘Freckles’ on the company’s books; tell me your name.”
29 “I haven’t any other name,” replied the boy. “That is the one they assigned me at the home for children who don’t have parents. But if you give me a job where I can earn food, clothes, and a place to sleep, if I can have a boss to belong to, I will do precisely what you tell me no matter what.”
30 He spoke so convincingly that McLean believed him and found himself answering, “Very well, I will tell you what we will do. My father was my hero, and I loved him more than anyone; he went out five years ago, but I firmly believe he would have been proud to leave you his name. If I give to you the name of my nearest kin and the man I loved best—will that do?”
31 Freckles’ head dropped, and big tears splashed on the soiled shirt.
32 “All right,” McLlean said. “I will write it on the roll—James Ross McLean.”
33 “Thank you mightily,” Freckles choked out, “That makes me feel almost as if I belong already.”
34 “You do,” said McLean. “Now, come and take a bath, have some supper, and go to bed.”
35 As Freckles followed his new boss, his heart and soul sang joyfully.
Why does the cook assume Freckles is of no use to McLean?
He does not like bringing in outsiders.
He distrusts Freckles’ reckless attitude.
He makes judgments based on Freckles’ age and size.
He wants the position for which Freckles is interviewing.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The cook makes judgments based on Freckles’ age and size. This is evident from the cook's careless attitude and the way he dismisses Freckles without considering his determination and potential. McLean later acknowledges that size may not be as important as grit and faithfulness, which further illustrates that initially, the cook's judgment was based on superficial criteria.