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need to。 Was he not already surrounded by things and people that were
strange to him？
And they were so very strangethese people！ There were the boys and
men who rose at dawnyet never paused to watch the sun flood the world
with light； who stayed in the fields all dayyet never raised their eyes to
the big fleecy clouds overhead； who knew birds only as thieves after fruit
and grain； and squirrels and rabbits only as creatures to be trapped or shot。
The womenthey were even more incomprehensible。 They spent the long
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hours behind screened doors and windows； washing the same dishes and
sweeping the same floors day after day。 They； too； never raised their eyes
to the blue sky outside； nor even to the crimson roses that peeped in at the
window。 They seemed rather to be looking always for dirt； yet not pleased
when they found itespecially if it had been tracked in on the heel of a
small boy's shoe！
More extraordinary than all this to David； however； was the fact that
these people regarded HIM； not themselves； as being strange。 As if it were
not the most natural thing in the world to live with one's father in one's
home on the mountain…top； and spend one's days trailing through the forest
paths； or lying with a book beside some babbling little stream！ As if it
were not equally natural to take one's violin with one at times； and learn to
catch upon the quivering strings the whisper of the winds through the trees！
Even in winter； when the clouds themselves came down from the sky and
covered the earth with their soft whiteness；even then the forest was
beautiful； and the song of the brook under its icy coat carried a charm and
mystery that were quite wanting in the chattering freedom of summer。
Surely there was nothing strange in all this； and yet these people seemed to
think there was！
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CHAPTER IX
JOE
Day by day； however； as time passed； David diligently tried to
perform the 〃dos〃 and avoid the 〃don'ts〃； and day by day he came to
realize how important weeds and woodboxes were； if he were to conform
to what was evidently Farmer Holly's idea of 〃playing in； tune〃 in this
strange new Orchestra of Life in which he found himself。
But； try as he would； there was yet an unreality about it all； a persistent
feeling of uselessness and waste； that would not be set aside。 So that； after
all； the only part of this strange new life of his that seemed real to him was
the time that came after four o'clock each day； when he was released from
work。
And how full he filled those hours！ There was so much to see； so much
to do。 For sunny days there were field and stream and pasture land and the
whole wide town to explore。 For rainy days； if he did not care to go to
walk； there was his room with the books in the chimney cupboard。 Some
of them David had read before； but many of them he had not。 One or two
were old friends； but not so 〃Dare Devil Dick；〃 and 〃The Pirates of Pigeon
Cove〃 （which he found hidden in an obscure corner behind a loose board）。
Side by side stood 〃The Lady of the Lake；〃 〃Treasure Island；〃 and 〃David
Copperfield〃； and coverless and dogeared lay 〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 〃The
Arabian Nights；〃 and 〃Grimm's Fairy Tales。〃 There were more； many
more； and David devoured them all with eager eyes。 The good in them he
absorbed as he absorbed the sunshine； the evil he cast aside
unconsciouslyit rolled off； indeed； like the proverbial water from the
duck's back。
David hardly knew sometimes which he liked the better； his
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imaginative adventures between the covers of his books or his real
adventures in his daily strolls。 True； it was not his mountain homethis
place in which he found himself； neither was there anywhere his Silver
Lake with its far； far…reaching sky above。 More deplorable yet； nowhere
was there the dear father he loved so well。 But the sun still set in rose and
gold； and the sky； though small； still carried the snowy sails of its cloud…
boats； while as to his fatherhis father had told him not to grieve； and
David was trying very hard to obey。
With his violin for company David started out each day； unless he
elected to stay indoors with his books。 Sometimes it was toward the
village that he turned his steps； sometimes it was toward the hills back of
the town。 Whichever way it was； there was always sure to be something
waiting at the end for him and his violin to discover； if it was nothing
more than a big white rose in bloom； or a squirrel sitting by the roadside。
Very soon； however； David discovered that there was something to be
found in his wanderings besides squirrels and roses； and that waspeople。
In spite of the strangeness of these people； they were wonderfully
interesting； David thought。 And after that he turned his steps more and
more frequently toward the village when four o'clock released him from
the day's work。
At first David did not talk much to these people。 He shrank sensitively
from their bold stares and unpleasantly audible comments。 He watched
them with round eyes of wonder and interest； however；when he did not
think they were watching him。 And in time he came to know not a little
about them and about the strange ways in which they passed their time。
There was the greenhouse man。 It would be pleasant to spend one's
day growing plants and flowersbut not under that hot； stifling glass roof；
decided David。 Besides； he would not want always to pick and send away
the very prettiest ones to the city every morning； as the greenhouse man
did。
There was the doctor who rode all day long behind the gray mare；
making sick folks well。 David liked him； and mentally vowed that he
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himself would be a doctor sometime。 Still； there was the s