This story starts off with the misfortunes of Freckles and miraculously ends with a complete change in circumstances. Freckles is a homeless orphan with only one hand. He became maimed as an infant in an accident, and has grown up with the handicap. Over the years he has learned to compensate for his physical loss, but emotionally he suffers with an inferiority complex. He does have a very strong character and as the story unfolds gains the love and trust of his boss. His job is to guard The Limberlost, a swampland, from timber thieves. While keeping watch over the property he learns about the plants, animals and birds who occupy this wildlife sanctuary. He meets a naturalist known as “The Bird Woman” and her assistant a young girl he calls “Angel.” Their project is to photograph the birds and butterflies of the swamps. Freckles, of course falls in love with Angel, but feels unworthy of her because of his deformity and lack of education. Throughout the story Gene Stratton Porter describes the natural setting magnificently and had me noticing beauty in the world around me which so often gets overlooked. Freckles and Angel encounter many adventures in the Limberlost and grow to be close friends. The ending is very sweet as Freckles find members of his lost family and becomes engaged to Angel. The gradual romance of Angel and Freckles will delight readers as they are swept up by the goodness of the characters, rejoicing in the truth of their love.