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of this very ordinary sight of hunger being appeased at her table； breathed
more freely； and ventured to think that perhaps this strange little boy was
not so very strange； after all。
〃What is your name？〃 she found courage to ask then。
〃David。〃
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JUST DAVID
〃David what？〃
〃Just David。〃
〃But your father's name？〃 Mrs。 Holly had almost asked； but stopped in
time。 She did not want to speak of him。 〃Where do you live？〃 she asked
instead。
〃On the mountain； 'way up； up on the mountain where I can see my
Silver Lake every day； you know。〃
〃But you didn't live there alone？〃
〃Oh； no； with fatherbefore hewent away〃 faltered the boy。
The woman flushed red and bit her lip。
〃No； no； I meanwere there no other houses but yours？〃 she
stammered。
〃No； ma'am。〃
〃But； wasn't your motheranywhere？〃
〃Oh； yes； in father's pocket。〃
〃Your MOTHERin your father's POCKET！〃
So plainly aghast was the questioner that David looked not a little
surprised as he explained。
〃You don't understand。 She is an angel…mother； and angel…mothers
don't have anything only their pictures down here with us。 And that's what
we have； and father always carried it in his pocket。〃
〃Ohh；〃 murmured Mrs。 Holly； a quick mist in her eyes。 Then；
gently： 〃And did you always live thereon the mountain？〃
〃Six years； father said。〃
〃But what did you do all day？ Weren't you everlonesome？〃
〃Lonesome？〃 The boy's eyes were puzzled。
〃Yes。 Didn't you miss thingspeople； other houses； boys of your own
age； andand such things？〃
David's eyes widened。
〃Why； how could I？〃 he cried。 〃When I had daddy； and my violin； and
my Silver Lake； and the whole of the great big woods with everything in
them to talk to； and to talk to me？〃
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JUST DAVID
〃Woods； and things in them toto TALK to you！〃 〃Why； yes。 It was
the little brook； you know； after the squirrel； that told me about being dead；
and〃
〃Yes； yes； but never mind； dear； now；〃 stammered the woman； rising
hurriedly to her feetthe boy was a little wild； after all； she thought。 〃You…
…you should go to bed。 Haven't you aa bag； oror anything？〃
〃No； ma'am； we left it；〃 smiled David apologetically。 〃You see； we had
so much in it that it got too heavy to carry。 So we did n't bring it。〃
〃So much in it you didn't bring it； indeed！〃 repeated Mrs。 Holly； under
her breath； throwing up her hands with a gesture of despair。 〃Boy； what are
you； anyway？〃
It was not meant for a question； but； to the woman's surprise； the boy
answered； frankly； simply：
〃Father says that I'm one little instrument in the great Orchestra of Life；
and that I must see to it that I'm always in tune； and don't drag or hit false
notes。〃
〃My land！〃 breathed the woman； dropping back in her chair； her eyes
fixed on the boy。 Then； with an effort； she got to her feet。 〃Come； you
must go to bed；〃 she stammered。 〃I'm sure bed isis the best place you。 I
think I can find whatwhat you need；〃 she finished feebly。
In a snug little room over the kitchen some minutes later； David found
himself at last alone。 The room； though it had once belonged to a boy of
his own age； looked very strange to David。 On the floor was a rag…carpet
rug； the first he had ever seen。 On the walls were a fishing…rod； a toy
shotgun； and a case full of bugs and moths； each little body impaled on a
pin； to David's shuddering horror。 The bed had four tall posts at the
corners； and a very puffy top that filled David with wonder as to how he
was to reach it； or stay there if he did gain it。 Across a chair lay a boy's
long yellow…white nightshirt that the kind lady had left； after hurriedly
wiping her eyes with the edge of its hem。 In all the circle of the candlelight
there was just one familiar object to David's homesick eyesthe long
black violin case which he had brought in himself； and which held his
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JUST DAVID
beloved violin。
With his back carefully turned toward the impaled bugs and moths on
the wall； David undressed himself and slipped into the yellow…white
nightshirt； which he sniffed at gratefully； so like pine woods was the
perfume that hung about its folds。 Then he blew out the candle and groped
his way to the one window the little room contained。
The moon still shone； but little could be seen through the thick green
branches of the tree outside。 From the yard below came the sound of
wheels； and of men's excited voices。 There came also the twinkle of
lanterns borne by hurrying hands； and the tramp of shuffling feet。 In the
window David shivered。 There were no wide sweep of mountain； hill； and
valley； no Silver Lake； no restful hush； no daddy；no beautiful Things that
Were。 There was only the dreary； hollow mockery of the Things they had
Become。
Long minutes later； David； with the violin in his arms； lay down upon
the rug； and； for the first time since babyhood； sobbed himself to sleep
but it was a sleep that brought no rest； for in it he dreamed that he was a
big； white…winged moth pinned with a star to an ink…black sky。
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CHAPTER IV
TWO LETTERS
In the early gray dawn David awoke。 His first sensation was the
physical numbness and stiffness that came from his hard bed on the floor。
〃Why； daddy；〃 he began； pulling himself half…erect； 〃I slept all night
on〃 He stopped suddenly； brushing his eyes with the backs of his hands。
〃Why； daddy； where〃 Then full consciousness came to him。
With a low cry he sprang to his feet and ran to the window。 Through
the trees he could see the sunrise glow of the eastern sky。 Down in the
yard no one was in sight； but the barn door was open； and； with a quick
indrawing of his breath； David turned back into the room and began to
thrust himself into his clothing。
The gold in his sagging pockets clinked and jingled musically； and
once half a dozen pieces rolled out upon the floor。 For a moment