Just David

day by day he came to realize how important weeds and woodboxes were, if he were to conform to what was evide

aste, that would not be set aside. So that, after all, the only part of this strange new life of his tha

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

ace 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 stil

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 wait

nd that was-people. In spite of the strangeness of these people, they were wonderfully interesting, David thought. And aft

le comments. He watched them with round eyes of wonder and interest, however,-when he did not think they were watchin

-but not under that hot, stifling glass roof, decided David. Besides, he would not want always t

as not sure but he would prefer to follow this man's profession for a life-work; for in his, one could still have the freedom of long days in the open, and yet not be saddened by the sight of the sick before th

not. All of which merely goes to prove that David was still on the lookout for

into a riotous abandonment of tumbling turns and trills-that a fretful baby heard and stopped its wailing, David also did not know. And once, just because the sky was blue and the air was sweet, and it was so good to be alive, David lifted his bow and put it all into a rapturous paean of ringing exul

er knees putting flowers on a little mound before her. She looked up as David approached.

boy, who

Dav

you live here? I've

rposely the boy evaded the questions. David was ge

st one dear to y

some

ur father or

aren't here. My moth

he far country. He is waiti

a great light came to her own. "Oh, little boy, I wish I could understand that-just that," she breathed. "It

Silently the Lady in Black knelt, listening, looking after him. When she rose some time l

ld see things as he saw them, who would understand what he was saying when he played. It seemed to David that in some boy of his own age he ought to find such a friend. He

ey had never heard of the great Orchestra of Life, and they fell into most disconcerting fits of laughter, or else backed away as if afraid, when h

y, the old black man, tripped on the string they drew across his path. They liked to throw stones and shoot guns, and the more creeping, crawling, or flying creatures that they could send to the far country, the happier they were, apparently. Nor did they like it at all when he asked them i

he discov

ilapidated fences, or lolled on mud-tracked doorsteps. David, his shrinking eyes turning from one side to the other, passed slowly through the street, his violin under his arm. Nowhere could David find here the tiniest spot of beauty to "play." He had re

SEE anything beautiful to play," laughed David softly

touch on his arm. He turned to confront a small girl in a patched and faded calico dress, obviously outgro

oe sent this-to y

vid stopped playing a

ay perceptibly, though sh

d to tell you he'd 'a' sent more money if he coul

yes flew

to play? He likes it

much-the cent. But he thought ma

added, waving the again-proffered coin aside. "I don't need money where I'm

ent satisfaction at the accomplishment of her purpose, yet kept quite aloof from the boy.

his own age, a boy with sandy hair, pale chee

im? Will he play?" called th

see the violin? Shall I play here or come i

s if to explain something; but t

d will you just let me touch it-the fiddle? Come! You WILL c

and? Could you see the cloud-boats up in the sky, and my Silver Lake down in the valley? And could you hear the birds, and the winds in the trees, and the little brooks? Could you? Oh, did you

usky whisper, darting to her brother's side. "Oh, why did you

ace was curiously alight, as if from an inward glow. Hi

nd. Boy, you mean-INSIDE of you, you see those things, and then

r thought you could. I never thought that anybody could tha

n his voice. "Anything but these! I guess if I could see ANYTHING, I would

ice were full of horror. "You mean yo

thi

s one in a book-but father took it away. Since

the blind boy, growing restive under the p

u know? And how can you ever play in tune? You're one of the instruments. Father said everybody

little girl "Won't you let hi

hed Joe, a little irritably. Then to Da

ye? You SAI

ging his violin hastily to position, and testin

n his chair with a contented sigh. "No

murmuring forest brooks in his music this time. There were only the poverty-stricken room, the dirty street, the boy

stood. He had seemed to know that he was being told of the sunny skies and the forest w

ightless eyes, one c

s, he was laying the purple and gold of a thousand sunsets, the rose and amber of a thousand sunrises,

a'n't that just great? Won't you let me, please, just touch that fiddle?" And Dav