按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he wondered if； after all； his trainingsome of ithad been wise。
For six years he had had the boy under his exclusive care and guidance。
5
… Page 6…
JUST DAVID
For six years the boy had eaten the food； worn the clothing； and studied
the books of his father's choosing。 For six years that father had thought；
planned； breathed； moved； lived for his son。 There had been no others in
the little cabin。 There had been only the occasional trips through the
woods to the little town on the mountain…side for food and clothing； to
break the days of close companionship。
All this the man had planned carefully。 He had meant that only the
good and beautiful should have place in David's youth。 It was not that he
intended that evil； unhappiness； and death should lack definition； only
definiteness； in the boy's mind。 It should be a case where the good and the
beautiful should so fill the thoughts that there would be no room for
anything else。 This had been his plan。 And thus far he had succeeded
succeeded so wonderfully that he began now； in the face of his own
illness； and of what he feared would come of it； to doubt the wisdom of
that planning。
As he looked at the boy's rapt face； he remembered David's surprised
questioning at the first dead squirrel he had found in the woods。 David was
six then。
〃Why； daddy； he's asleep； and he won't wake up！〃 he had cried。 Then；
after a gentle touch： 〃And he's coldoh； so cold！〃
The father had hurried his son away at the time； and had evaded his
questions； and David had seemed content。 But the next day the boy had
gone back to the subject。 His eyes were wide then； and a little frightened。
〃Father； what is it to bedead？〃
〃What do you mean； David？〃
〃The boy who brings the milkhe had the squirrel this morning。 He
said it was not asleep。 It wasdead。〃
〃It means that the squirrel； the real squirrel under the fur； has gone
away； David。〃
〃Where？〃
〃To a far country； perhaps。〃
〃Will he come back？〃
6
… Page 7…
JUST DAVID
〃No。〃
〃Did he want to go？〃
〃We'll hope so。〃
〃But he left hishis fur coat behind him。 Didn't he needthat？〃
〃No； or he'd have taken it with him。〃
David had fallen silent at this。 He had remained strangely silent indeed
for some days； then； out in the woods with his father one morning； he gave
a joyous shout。 He was standing by the ice…covered brook； and looking at
a little black hole through which the hurrying water could be plainly seen。
〃Daddy； oh； daddy； I know now how it is； about beingdead。〃
〃WhyDavid！〃
〃It's like the water in the brook； you know； THAT'S going to a far
country； and it isn't coming back。 And it leaves its little cold ice…coat
behind it just as the squirrel did； too。 It does n't need it。 It can go without it。
Don't you see？ And it's singinglisten！it's singing as it goes。 It WANTS
to go！〃
〃Yes； David。〃 And David's father had sighed with relief that his son
had found his own explanation of the mystery； and one that satisfied。
Later； in his books； David found death again。 It was a man； this time。
The boy had looked up with startled eyes。
〃Do people； real people； like you and me； be dead； father？ Do they go
to a far country？
〃Yes； son in timeto a far country ruled over by a great and good King
they tell us。
David's father had trembled as he said it； and had waited fearfully for
the result。 But David had only smiled happily as he answered：
〃But they go singing； father； like the little brook。 You know I heard it！〃
And there the matter had ended。 David was ten now； and not yet for
him did death spell terror。 Because of this David's father was relieved； and
yetstill because of thishe was afraid。
〃David；〃 he said gently。 〃Listen to me。〃
The boy turned with a long sigh。
7
… Page 8…
JUST DAVID
〃Yes； father。〃
〃We must go away。 Out in the great world there are men and women
and children waiting for you。 You've a beautiful work to do； and one can't
do one's work on a mountain…top。〃
〃Why not？ I like it here； and I've always been here。〃
〃Not always； David； six years。 You were four when I brought you here。
You don't remember； perhaps。〃
David shook his head。 His eyes were again dreamily fixed on the sky。
〃I think I'd like itto goif I could sail away on that little cloud…boat
up there；〃 he murmured。
The man sighed and shook his head。
〃We can't go on cloud…boats。 We must walk； David； for a wayand we
must go soonsoon；〃 he added feverishly。 〃I must get you backback
among friends； before〃
He rose unsteadily； and tried to walk erect。 His limbs shook； and the
blood throbbed at his temples。 He was appalled at his weakness。 With a
fierceness born of his terror he turned sharply to the boy at his side。
〃David； we've got to go！ We've got to goTO…MORROW！〃
〃Father！〃
〃Yes； yes； come！〃 He stumbled blindly； yet in some way he reached
the cabin door。
Behind him David still sat； inert； staring。 The next minute the boy had
sprung to his feet and was hurrying after his father。
8
… Page 9…
JUST DAVID
CHAPTER II
THE TRAIL
A curious strength seemed to have come to the man。 With almost
steady hands he took down the photographs and the Sistine Madonna；
packing them neatly away in a box to be left。 From beneath his bunk he
dragged a large； dusty traveling…bag； and in this he stowed a little food； a
few garments； and a great deal of the music scattered about the room。
David； in the doorway； stared in dazed wonder。 Gradually into his eyes
crept a look never seen there before。
〃Father； where are we going？〃 he asked at last in a shaking voice； as
he came slowly into the room。
〃Back； son； we're going back。〃
〃To the village； where we get our eggs and bacon？〃
〃No； no； lad； not there。 The other way。 We go down into the valley this
time。〃
〃The valleyMY valley； with the Silver Lake？〃
〃Yes； my son； and beyondfar beyond。〃 The man spoke dreamily。 He
was looking at a photograph in his hand。 It had slipped in among the loose
sheets of music； and had not been put away with the others。 It was the
likeness of a beautiful woman。
For a moment David eyed him uncertainly； then he spoke。
〃Daddy； who is that？ Who are all these people in the pictures？ You've
never told me about any of them except the little round one that you wear
in your pocket。 Who are they？〃
Instead of answering； the man turned faraway eyes on the boy and
smiled wistfully。
〃Ah； David； lad； how they'll love you！ How they will love you！ But
9
… Page 10…
JUST DAVID
you mustn't let them spoil you； son。 You must rememberremember all
I've told you。〃
Once again David asked his question； but this time the man only
turned back to the photograph； muttering something the boy could not
understand。
After that David did not question any more。 He was too amazed； too
distressed。 He had never before seen his father like this。 With nervous
haste the man was setting the little room to rights； crowding things into the
bag； and packing other things away in an old trunk。 His cheeks were very
red； and his eyes very bright。 He talked； too； almost constantly； though
David could understand scarcely a word of what was said。 Later； the man
caught up his violin and played； and never before had David heard his
father play like that。 The boy's eyes filled； and his heart ached with a pain
that choked and numbedthough why； David could not have told。 Still
later； the man dropped his violin and sank exhausted into a chair； and then
David； worn and frightened with it all； crept to his bunk and fell