Foratimeneitherthemannorthewomancouldspeak。Therewasnothingintheirhumdrum，habit-smoothedtillingofthesoilandwashingofpotsandpanstopreparethemforascenelikethis——amoonlitbarn，astrangedeadman，andthatdeadman’ssonbabblingofbrooksandsquirrels，andplayingjigsonafiddleforadirge。Atlast，however，Simeonfoundhisvoice。
\"Boy，boy，stopthat！\"hethundered。\"Areyoumad——cleanmad？Gointothehouse，Isay！\"Andtheboy，dazedbutobedient，putuphisviolin，andfollowedthewoman，who，withtear-blindedeyes，wasleadingthewaydownthestairs。
Mrs。Hollywasfrightened，butshewasalsostrangelymoved。Fromthelongagothesoundofanotherviolinhadcometoher——aviolin，too，playedbyaboy’shands。Butofthis，allthis，Mrs。
Hollydidnotliketothink。
Inthekitchennowsheturnedandfacedheryoungguest。
\"Areyouhungry，littleboy？\"
Davidhesitated；hehadnotforgottenthewoman，themilk，andthegold-piece。
\"Areyouhungry——dear？\"stammeredMrs。Hollyagain；andthistimeDavid’sclamorousstomachforceda\"yes\"fromhisunwillinglips；
whichsentMrs。Hollyatonceintothepantryforbreadandmilkandaheaped-upplateofdoughnutssuchasDavidhadneverseenbefore。
LikeanyhungryboyDavidatehissupper；andMrs。Holly，inthefaceofthisveryordinarysightofhungerbeingappeasedathertable，breathedmorefreely，andventuredtothinkthatperhapsthisstrangelittleboywasnotsoverystrange，afterall。
\"Whatisyourname？\"shefoundcouragetoaskthen。
\"David。\"
\"Davidwhat？\"
\"JustDavid。\"
\"Butyourfather’sname？\"Mrs。Hollyhadalmostasked，butstoppedintime。Shedidnotwanttospeakofhim。\"Wheredoyoulive？\"sheaskedinstead。
\"Onthemountain，’wayup，uponthemountainwhereIcanseemySilverLakeeveryday，youknow。\"
\"Butyoudidn’tlivetherealone？\"
\"Oh，no；withfather——beforehe——wentaway\"falteredtheboy。
Thewomanflushedredandbitherlip。
\"No，no，Imean——weretherenootherhousesbutyours？\"shestammered。
\"No，ma’am。\"
\"But，wasn’tyourmother——anywhere？\"
\"Oh，yes，infather’spocket。\"
\"YourMOTHER——inyourfather’sPOCKET！\"
SoplainlyaghastwasthequestionerthatDavidlookednotalittlesurprisedasheexplained。
\"Youdon’tunderstand。Sheisanangel-mother，andangel-mothersdon’thaveanythingonlytheirpicturesdownherewithus。Andthat’swhatwehave，andfatheralwayscarrieditinhispocket。\"
\"Oh————h，\"murmuredMrs。Holly，aquickmistinhereyes。Then，gently：\"Anddidyoualwayslivethere——onthemountain？\"
\"Sixyears，fathersaid。\"
\"Butwhatdidyoudoallday？Weren’tyouever——lonesome？\"
\"Lonesome？\"Theboy’seyeswerepuzzled。
\"Yes。Didn’tyoumissthings——people，otherhouses，boysofyourownage，and——andsuchthings？\"
David’seyeswidened。
\"Why，howcouldI？\"hecried。\"WhenIhaddaddy，andmyviolin，andmySilverLake，andthewholeofthegreatbigwoodswitheverythinginthemtotalkto，andtotalktome？\"
\"Woods，andthingsinthemto——toTALKtoyou！\"
\"Why，yes。Itwasthelittlebrook，youknow，afterthesquirrel，thattoldmeaboutbeingdead，and——\"
\"Yes，yes；butnevermind，dear，now，\"stammeredthewoman，risinghurriedlytoherfeet——theboywasalittlewild，afterall，shethought。\"You——youshouldgotobed。Haven’tyoua——abag，or——oranything？\"
\"No，ma’am；weleftit，\"smiledDavidapologetically。\"Yousee，wehadsomuchinitthatitgottooheavytocarry。Sowedidn’tbringit。\"
\"Somuchinityoudidn’tbringit，indeed！\"repeatedMrs。
Holly，underherbreath，throwingupherhandswithagestureofdespair。\"Boy，whatareyou，anyway？\"
Itwasnotmeantforaquestion，but，tothewoman’ssurprise，theboyanswered，frankly，simply：——
\"FathersaysthatI’monelittleinstrumentinthegreatOrchestraofLife，andthatImustseetoitthatI’malwaysintune，anddon’tdragorhitfalsenotes。\"
\"Myland！\"breathedthewoman，droppingbackinherchair，hereyesfixedontheboy。Then，withaneffort，shegottoherfeet。
\"Come，youmustgotobed，\"shestammered。\"I’msurebedis——isthebestplaceyou。IthinkIcanfindwhat——whatyouneed，\"shefinishedfeebly。
Inasnuglittleroomoverthekitchensomeminuteslater，Davidfoundhimselfatlastalone。Theroom，thoughithadoncebelongedtoaboyofhisownage，lookedverystrangetoDavid。
Onthefloorwasarag-carpetrug，thefirsthehadeverseen。Onthewallswereafishing-rod，atoyshotgun，andacasefullofbugsandmoths，eachlittlebodyimpaledonapin，toDavid’sshudderinghorror。Thebedhadfourtallpostsatthecorners，andaverypuffytopthatfilledDavidwithwonderastohowhewastoreachit，orstaythereifhedidgainit。Acrossachairlayaboy’slongyellow-whitenightshirtthatthekindladyhadleft，afterhurriedlywipinghereyeswiththeedgeofitshem。
InallthecircleofthecandlelighttherewasjustonefamiliarobjecttoDavid’shomesickeyes——thelongblackviolincasewhichhehadbroughtinhimself，andwhichheldhisbelovedviolin。
Withhisbackcarefullyturnedtowardtheimpaledbugsandmothsonthewall，Davidundressedhimselfandslippedintotheyellow-whitenightshirt，whichhesniffedatgratefully，solikepinewoodswastheperfumethathungaboutitsfolds。Thenheblewoutthecandleandgropedhiswaytotheonewindowthelittleroomcontained。
Themoonstillshone，butlittlecouldbeseenthroughthethickgreenbranchesofthetreeoutside。Fromtheyardbelowcamethesoundofwheels，andofmen’sexcitedvoices。Therecamealsothetwinkleoflanternsbornebyhurryinghands，andthetrampofshufflingfeet。InthewindowDavidshivered。Therewerenowidesweepofmountain，hill，andvalley，noSilverLake，norestfulhush，nodaddy，——nobeautifulThingsthatWere。Therewasonlythedreary，hollowmockeryoftheThingstheyhadBecome。
Longminuteslater，David，withtheviolininhisarms，laydownupontherug，and，forthefirsttimesincebabyhood，sobbedhimselftosleep——butitwasasleepthatbroughtnorest；forinithedreamedthathewasabig，white-wingedmothpinnedwithastartoanink-blacksky。
CHAPTERIV
TWOLETTERS
IntheearlygraydawnDavidawoke。Hisfirstsensationwasthephysicalnumbnessandstiffnessthatcamefromhishardbedonthefloor。
\"Why，daddy，\"hebegan，pullinghimselfhalf-erect，\"Isleptallnighton——\"Hestoppedsuddenly，brushinghiseyeswiththebacksofhishands。\"Why，daddy，where——\"Thenfullconsciousnesscametohim。
Withalowcryhesprangtohisfeetandrantothewindow。
Throughthetreeshecouldseethesunriseglowoftheeasternsky。Downintheyardnoonewasinsight；butthebarndoorwasopen，and，withaquickindrawingofhisbreath，Davidturnedbackintotheroomandbegantothrusthimselfintohisclothing。
Thegoldinhissaggingpocketsclinkedandjingledmusically；
andoncehalfadozenpiecesrolledoutuponthefloor。Foramomenttheboylookedasifheweregoingtoletthemremainwheretheywere。Butthenextminute，withanimpatientgesture，hehadpickedthemupandthrustthemdeepintooneofhispockets，silencingtheirjinglingwithhishandkerchief。
Oncedressed，Davidpickeduphisviolinandsteppedsoftlyintothehall。Atfirstnosoundreachedhisears；thenfromthekitchenbelowcametheclatterofbriskfeetandtherattleoftinsandcrockery。Tighteninghisclaspontheviolin，Davidslippedquietlydownthebackstairsandouttotheyard。Itwasonlyafewsecondsthenbeforehewashurryingthroughtheopendoorwayofthebarnandupthenarrowstairwaytotheloftabove。
Atthetop，however，hecametoasharppause，withalowcry。
Thenextmomentheturnedtoseeakindly-facedmanlookingupathimfromthefootofthestairs。
\"Oh，sir，please——please，whereishe？Whathaveyoudonewithhim？\"appealedtheboy，almostplungingheadlongdownthestairsinhishastetoreachthebottom。
Intotheman’sweather-beatenfacecamealookofsincerebutawkwardsympathy。
\"Oh，hullo，sonny！Soyou’retheboy，areye？\"hebegandiffidently。
\"Yes，yes，I’mDavid。Butwhereishe——myfather，youknow？I
meanthe——theparthe——heleftbehindhim？\"chokedtheboy。\"Thepartlike——theice-coat？\"
Themanstared。Then，involuntarily，hebegantobackaway。
\"Well，yesee，I——I——\"
\"But，maybeyoudon’tknow，\"interruptedDavidfeverishly。\"Youaren’tthemanIsawlastnight。Whoareyou？Whereishe——theotherone，please？\"
\"No，I——Iwa’n’there——thatis，notatthefirst，\"spokeupthemanquickly，stillunconsciouslybackingaway。\"Me——I’monlyLarson，PerryLarson，yeknow。’TwasMr。Hollyyouseelastnight——himthatIworksfor。\"
\"Then，whereisMr。Holly，please？\"falteredtheboy，hurryingtowardthebarndoor。\"Maybehewouldknow——aboutfather。Oh，thereheis！\"AndDavidranoutofthebarnandacrosstheyardtothekitchenporch。
ItwasanunhappytenminutesthatDavidspentthen。BesidesMr。
Holly，therewereMrs。Holly，andtheman，PerryLarson。Andtheyalltalked。ButlittleofwhattheysaidcouldDavidunderstand。
Tononeofhisquestionscouldheobtainananswerthatsatisfied。
Neither，onhispart，couldheseemtoreplytotheirquestionsinawaythatpleasedthem。
Theywentintobreakfastthen，Mr。andMrs。Holly，andtheman，PerryLarson。TheyaskedDavidtogo——atleast，Mrs。Hollyaskedhim。ButDavidshookhisheadandsaid\"No，no，thankyouverymuch；I’drathernot，ifyouplease——notnow。\"Thenhedroppedhimselfdownonthestepstothink。AsifhecouldEAT——withthatgreatchokinglumpinhisthroatthatrefusedtobeswallowed！
Davidwasthoroughlydazed，frightened，anddismayed。Heknewnowthatneveragaininthisworldwouldheseehisdearfather，orhearhimspeak。Thismuchhadbeenmadeverycleartohimduringthelasttenminutes。Whythisshouldbeso，orwhathisfatherwouldwanthimtodo，hecouldnotseemtofindout。Notuntilnowhadherealizedatallwhatthisgoingawayofhisfatherwastomeantohim。Andhetoldhimselffranticallythathecouldnothaveitso。HECOULDNOTHAVEITSO！Butevenashesaidthewords，heknewthatitwasso——irrevocablyso。
Davidbeganthentolongforhismountainhome。Thereatleasthewouldhavehisdearforestallabouthim，withthebirdsandthesquirrelsandthefriendlylittlebrooks。TherehewouldhavehisSilverLaketolookat，too，andallofthemwouldspeaktohimofhisfather。Hebelieved，indeed，thatupthereitwouldalmostseemasifhisfatherwerereallywithhim。And，anyway，ifhisfatherevershouldcomeback，itwouldbetherethathewouldbesuretoseekhim——upthereinthelittlemountainhomesodeartothemboth。Backtothecabinhewouldgonow，then。
Yes；indeedhewould！
Withalowwordandapassionatelyintentexpression，Davidgottohisfeet，pickeduphisviolin，andhurried，firm-footed，downthedrivewayandoutuponthemainhighway，turninginthedirectionfromwhencehehadcomewithhisfatherthenightbefore。
TheHollyshadjustfinishedbreakfastwhenHiggins，thecoroner，droveintotheyardaccompaniedbyWilliamStreeter，thetown’smostprominentfarmer，——andthemostmiserlyone，ifreportwastobecredited。
\"Well，couldyougetanythingoutoftheboy？\"demandedHiggins，withoutceremony，asSimeonHollyandLarsonappearedonthekitchenporch。
\"Verylittle。Reallynothingofimportance，\"answeredSimeonHolly。
\"Whereishenow？\"
\"Why，hewashereonthestepsafewminutesago。\"SimeonHollylookedabouthimabitimpatiently。
\"Well，Iwanttoseehim。I’vegotaletterforhim。\"
\"Aletter！\"exclaimedSimeonHollyandLarsoninamazedunison。
\"Yes。Founditinhisfather’spocket，\"noddedthecoroner，withallthetantalizingbrevityofamanwhoknowshehasachoicemorselofinformationthatiseagerlyawaited。\"It’saddressedto’MyboyDavid，’soIcalculatedwe’dbettergiveittohimfirstwithoutreadingit，seeingit’shis。Afterhereadsit，though，I
wanttoseeit。Iwanttoseeifwhatitsaysisanynearerbeinghorse-sensethantheotheroneis。\"
\"Theotherone！\"exclaimedtheamazedchorusagain。
\"Oh，yes，there’sanotherone，\"spokeupWilliamStreetertersely。\"AndI’vereadit——allbutthescrawlattheend。Therecouldn’tanybodyreadthat！\"Higginslaughed。
\"Well，I’mfreetoconfess’tisasticker——thatname，\"headmitted。\"Andit’sthenamewewant，ofcourse，totelluswhotheyare——sinceitseemstheboydon’tknow，fromwhatyousaidlastnight。Iwasinhopes，bythismorning，you’dhavefoundoutmorefromhim。\"
SimeonHollyshookhishead。
\"’Twasimpossible。\"
\"Gosh！Ishouldsay’twas，\"cutinPerryLarson，withemphasis。
\"An’queerain’tnonameforit。Oneminutehe’dbetalkin’goodcommonsenselikeanybody：an’thenexthe’dbechatterin’ofcoatsmadeo’ice，an’birdsan’squirrelsan’babblingbrooks。
Hesureisdippy！Listen。Heactuallydon’tseemterknowthediff’rencebetweenhimselfan’hisfiddle。Wewastryin’terfindoutthismornin’whathecoulddo，an’whathewantedterdo，whenifhedidn’tupan’saythathisfathertoldhimitdidn’tmakesomuchdiff’renceWHAThedidsolongashekepthisselfintunean’didn’tstrikefalsenotes。Now，whatdoyerthinko’
that？\"
\"Yes，I，know\"noddedHigginsmusingly。\"ThereWASsomethingqueeraboutthem，andtheyweren’tjustordinarytramps。DidI
tellyou？IovertookthemlastnightawayupontheFairbanksroadbytheTaylorplace，andIgave’emalift。Iparticularlynoticedwhatadecentsorttheywere。Theywerecleanandquiet-spoken，andtheirclothesweregood，eveniftheywererough。Yettheydidn’thaveanybaggagebutthemfiddles。\"
\"Butwhatwasthatsecondletteryoumentioned？\"askedSimeonHolly。
Higginssmiledoddly，andreachedintohispocket。
\"Theletter？Oh，you’rewelcometoreadtheletter，\"hesaid，ashehandedoverabitoffoldedpaper。
Simeontookitgingerlyandexaminedit。
Itwasaleaftornapparentlyfromanotebook。Itwasfoldedthreetimes，andboreontheoutsidethesuperscription\"Towhomitmayconcern。\"Thehandwritingwaspeculiar，irregular，andnotverylegible。Butasnearasitcouldbedeciphered，thenoteranthus：——
NowthatthetimehascomewhenImustgiveDavidbacktotheworld，Ihavesetoutforthatpurpose。
ButIamill——veryill，andshouldDeathhaveswifterfeetthanI，Imustleavemytaskforotherstocomplete。Dealgentlywithhim。Heknowsonlythatwhichisgoodandbeautiful。Heknowsnothingofsinnorevil。
Thenfollowedthesignature——athingofscrawlsandflourishesthatconveyednosortofmeaningtoSimeonHolly’spuzzledeyes。
\"Well？\"promptedHigginsexpectantly。
SimeonHollyshookhishead。
\"Icanmakelittleofit。Itcertainlyisamostremarkablenote。\"
\"Couldyoureadthename？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，Icouldn’t。Neithercouldhalfadozenothersthat’sseenit。Butwhere’stheboy？Mebbehisnote’lltalksense。\"
\"I’llgofindhim，\"volunteeredLarson。\"Hemustbesomewheres’round。\"
ButDavidwasveryevidentlynot\"somewheres’round。\"Atleasthewasnotinthebarn，theshed，thekitchenbedroom，noranywhereelsethatLarsonlooked；andthemanwasjustcomingbackwithacrestfallen，perplexedfrown，whenMrs。Hollyhurriedoutontotheporch。
\"Mr。Higgins，\"shecried，inobviousexcitement，\"yourwifehasjusttelephonedthathersisterMolliehasjusttelephonedHER
thatthatlittletrampboywiththeviolinisatherhouse。\"
\"AtMollie’s！\"exclaimedHiggins。\"Why，that’samileormorefromhere。\"
\"Sothat’swhereheis！\"interposedLarson，hurryingforward。
\"Doggonethelittlerascal！Hemust’a’slippedawaywhilewewaseatinbreakfast。\"
\"Yes。But，Simeon，——Mr。Higgins，——wehadn’toughttolethimgolikethat，\"appealedMrs。Hollytremulously。\"YourwifesaidMolliesaidshefoundhimcryingatthecrossroads，becausehedidn’tknowwhichwaytotake。Hesaidhewasgoingbackhome。
Hemeanstothatwretchedcabinonthemountain，youknow；andwecan’tlethimdothatalone——achildlikethat！\"
\"Whereishenow？\"demandedHiggins。
\"InMollie’skitcheneatingbreadandmilk；butshesaidshehadanawfultimegettinghimtoeat。Andshewantstoknowwhattodowithhim。That’swhyshetelephonedyourwife。Shethoughtyououghttoknowhewasthere。\"
\"Yes，ofcourse。Well，tellhertotellhimtocomeback。\"
\"Molliesaidshetriedtohavehimcomeback，butthathesaid，no，thankyou，he’drathernot。Hewasgoinghomewherehisfathercouldfindhimifheshouldeverwanthim。Mr。Higgins，we——weCAN’Tlethimgoofflikethat。Why，thechildwoulddieuptherealoneinthosedreadfulwoods，evenifhecouldgetthereinthefirstplace——whichIverymuchdoubt。\"
\"Yes，ofcourse，ofcourse，\"mutteredHiggins，withathoughtfulfrown。\"There’shisletter，too。Say！\"headded，brightening，\"what’llyoubetthatletterwon’tfetchhim？Heseemstothinktheworldandallofhisdaddy。Here，\"hedirected，turningtoMrs。Holly，\"youtellmywifetotell——betteryet，youtelephoneMollieyourself，please，andtellhertotelltheboywe’vegotaletterhereforhimfromhisfather，andhecanhaveitifhe’llcomeback。\"。
\"Iwill，Iwill，\"calledMrs。Holly，overhershoulder，asshehurriedintothehouse。Inanunbelievablyshorttimeshewasback，herfacebeaming。
\"He’sstarted，sosoon，\"shenodded。\"He’scrazywithjoy，Molliesaid。Heevenleftpartofhisbreakfast，hewasinsuchahurry。
SoIguesswe’llseehimallright。\"
\"Oh，yes，we’llseehimallright，\"echoedSimeonHollygrimly。
\"Butthatisn’ttellingwhatwe’lldowithhimwhenwedoseehim。\"
\"Oh，well，maybethisletterofhiswillhelpusoutonthat，\"
suggestedHigginssoothingly。\"Anyhow，evenifitdoesn’t，I’mnotworryingany。Iguesssomeonewillwanthim——agoodhealthyboylikethat。\"
\"Didyoufindanymoneyonthebody？\"askedStreeter。
\"Alittlechange——afewcents。Nothingtocount。Iftheboy’sletterdoesn’ttelluswhereanyoftheirfolksare，it’llbeuptothetowntoburyhimallright。\"
\"Hehadafiddle，didn’the？Andtheboyhadone，too。Wouldn’ttheybringanything？\"Streeter’sroundblueeyesgleamedshrewdly。
Higginsgaveaslowshakeofhishead。
\"Maybe——iftherewasamarketfor’em。Butwho’dbuy’em？Thereain’tasoulintownplaysbutJackGurnsey；andhe’sgotone。
Besides，he’ssick，andgotallhecandotobuybreadandbutterforhimandhissisterwithouttakinginmorefiddles，Iguess。
HEwouldn’tbuy’em。\"
\"Hm——m；maybenot，maybenot，\"gruntedStreeter。\"An’，asyousay，he’stheonlyonethat’sgotanyusefor’emhere；an’likeenoughtheyain’tworthmuch，anyway。SoIguess’tisuptothetownallright。\"
\"Yes；but——ifyer’lltakeitfromme，\"——interruptedLarson，——\"you’llbewiseifyekeepstillbeforetheboy。It’snouseASKIN’himanythin’。We’veprovedthatfastenough。An’ifheonceturns’roundan’beginsteraskYOUquestions，yerdonefor！\"
\"Iguessyou’reright，\"noddedHiggins，withaquizzicalsmile。
\"AndaslongasquestioningCAN’Tdoanygood，why，we’lljustkeepwhistbeforetheboy。MeanwhileIwishthelittlerascalwouldhurryupandgethere。IwanttoseetheinsideofthatlettertoHIM。I’mrelyingonthatbeingsomehelptounsnarlthistangleoftellingwhotheyare。\"
\"Well，he’sstarted，\"reiteratedMrs。Holly，assheturnedbackintothehouse；\"soIguesshe’llgethereifyouwaitlongenough。\"
\"Oh，yes，he’llgethereifwewaitlongenough，\"echoedSimeonHollyagain，crustily。
Thetwomeninthewagonsettledthemselvesmorecomfortablyintheirseats，andPerryLarson，afterahalf-uneasy，half-apologeticglanceathisemployer，droppedhimselfontothebottomstep。SimeonHollyhadalreadysatdownstifflyinoneoftheporchchairs。SimeonHollynever\"droppedhimself\"anywhere。
Indeed，accordingtoPerryLarson，iftherewereahardwaytodoathing，SimeonHollyfoundit——anddidit。Thefactthat，thismorning，hehadallowed，andwasstillallowing，thesacredroutineoftheday’sworktobethusinterrupted，fornothingmoreimportantthantheexpectedarrivalofastrollingurchin，wassomethingLarsonwouldnothavebelievedhadhenotseenit。
Evennowhewasconsciousonceortwiceofaninvoluntarydesiretorubhiseyestomakesuretheywerenotdeceivinghim。
ImpatientasthewaitingmenwereforthearrivalofDavid，theywereyetalmostsurprised，sosoondidheappear，runningupthedriveway。
\"Oh，whereisit，please？\"hepanted。\"Theysaidyouhadaletterformefromdaddy！\"
\"You’reright，sonny；wehave。Andhereitis，\"answeredHigginspromptly，holdingoutthefoldedpaper。
Plainlyeagerashewas，Daviddidnotopenthenotetillhehadfirstcarefullysetdownthecaseholdinghisviolin；thenhedevoureditwitheagereyes。
Asheread，thefourmenwatchedhisface。Theysawfirstthequicktearsthathadtobeblinkedaway。Thentheysawtheradiantglowthatgrewanddeepeneduntilthewholeboyishfacewasaflamewiththesplendorofit。Theysawtheshiningwonderofhiseyes，too，ashelookedupfromtheletter。
\"Anddaddywrotethistomefromthefarcountry？\"hebreathed。
SimeonHollyscowled。Larsonchokedoverastifledchuckle。
WilliamStreeterstaredandshruggedhisshoulders；butHigginsflushedadullred。
\"No，sonny，\"hestammered。\"Wefounditonthe——er——Imean，it——er——yourfatherleftitinhispocketforyou，\"finishedtheman，alittleexplosively。
Aswiftshadowcrossedtheboy’sface。
\"Oh，IhopedI’dheard——\"hebegan。Thensuddenlyhestopped，hisfaceoncemorealight。\"Butit’s’mostthesameasifhewroteitfromthere，isn’tit？Heleftitforme，andhetoldmewhattodo。\"
\"What’sthat，what’sthat？\"criedHiggins，instantlyalert。\"DID
hetellyouwhattodo？Then，let’shaveit，soWE’LLknow。Youwillletusreadit，won’tyou，boy？\"
\"Why，y——yes，\"stammeredDavid，holdingitoutpolitely，butwithevidentreluctance。
\"Thankyou，\"noddedHiggins，ashereachedforthenote。
David’sletterwasverydifferentfromtheotherone。Itwaslonger，butitdidnothelpmuch，thoughitwaseasilyread。Inhisletter，inspiteofthewaveringlines，eachwordwasformedwithacarethattoldofafather’sthoughtfortheyoungeyesthatwouldreadit。Itwaswrittenontwoofthenotebook’sleaves，andattheendcamethesingleword\"Daddy。\"
David，myboy[readHigginsaloud]，inthefarcountryIamwaitingforyou。Donotgrieve，forthatwillgrieveme。Ishallnotreturn，butsomedayyouwillcometome，yourviolinatyourchin，andthebowdrawnacrossthestringstogreetme。Seethatittellsmeofthebeautifulworldyouhaveleft——foritisabeautifulworld，David；neverforgetthat。Andifsometimeyouaretemptedtothinkitisnotabeautifulworld，justrememberthatyouyourselfcanmakeitbeautifulifyouwill。
Youareamongnewfaces，surroundedbythingsandpeoplethatarestrangetoyou。Someofthemyouwillnotunderstand；someofthemyoumaynotlike。Butdonotfear，David，anddonotpleadtogobacktothehills。Rememberthis，myboy，——inyourviolinlieallthethingsyoulongfor。Youhaveonlytoplay，andthebroadskiesofyourmountainhomewillbeoveryou，andthedearfriendsandcomradesofyourmountainforestswillbeaboutyou。
DADDY。
\"Gorry！that’sworsethantheother，\"groanedHiggins，whenhehadfinishedthenote。\"There’sactuallynothinginit！Wouldn’tyouthink——ifamanwroteanythingatsuchatime——thathe’d’a’
wrotesomethingthathadsomesensetoit——somethingthatonecouldgetholdof，andfindoutwhotheboyis？\"
Therewasnoansweringthis。Theassembledmencouldonlygruntandnodinagreement，which，afterall，wasnorealhelp。
CHAPTERV
DISCORDS
ThedeadmanfoundinFarmerHolly’sbarncreatedadecidedstirinthevillageofHinsdale。Thecasewasapeculiaroneformanyreasons。First，becauseoftheboy——Hinsdalesupposeditknewboys，butitfeltinclinedtochangeitsmindafterseeingthisone。Second，becauseofthecircumstances。Theboyandhisfatherhadenteredthetownliketramps，yetHiggins，whotalkedfreelyofhishavinggiventhepaira\"lift\"onthatveryevening，didnothesitatetodeclarethathedidnotbelievethemtobeordinarytrampsatall。
Astherehadbeenlittlefoundinthedeadman’spockets，savethetwonotes，andasnobodycouldbefoundwhowantedtheviolins，thereseemedtobenothingtodobuttoturnthebodyovertothetownforburial。NothingwassaidofthistoDavid；
indeed，aslittleaspossiblewassaidtoDavidaboutanythingafterthatmorningwhenHigginshadgivenhimhisfather’sletter。Atthattimethemenhadmadeonemoreeffortto\"gettrackofSOMETHING，\"asHigginshaddespairinglyputit。Buttheboy’sanswerstotheirquestionswereanythingbutsatisfying，anythingbuthelpful，andwereoftenmostdisconcerting。Theboywas，infact，regardedbymostofthemen，afterthatmorning，asbeing\"alittleoff\"；andwashenceletseverelyalone。
Whothemanwasthetownauthoritiescertainlydidnotknow，neithercouldtheyapparentlyfindout。Hisname，aswrittenbyhimself，wasunreadable。Hisnotestoldnothing；hissoncouldtelllittlemore——ofconsequence。Areport，tobesure，didcomefromthevillage，farupthemountain，thatsuchamanandboyhadlivedinahutthatwasalmostinaccessible；buteventhisdidnothelpsolvethemystery。
DavidwasleftattheHollyfarmhouse，thoughSimeonHollymentallydeclaredthatheshouldlosenotimeinlookingaboutforsomeonetotaketheboyaway。
OnthatfirstdayHiggins，pickingupthereinspreparatorytodrivingfromtheyard，hadsaid，withanodofhisheadtowardDavid：——
\"Well，howaboutit，Holly？Shallweleavehimheretillwefindsomebodythatwantshim？\"
\"Why，y——yes，Isupposeso，\"hesitatedSimeonHolly，withuncordialaccent。
Buthiswife，hoveringinthebackground，hastenedforwardatonce。
\"Oh，yes；yes，indeed，\"sheurged。\"I’msurehe——hewon’tbeamiteoftrouble，Simeon。\"
\"Perhapsnot，\"concededSimeonHollydarkly。\"Neither，itissafetosay，willhebeanythingelse——worthanything。\"
\"That’sitexactly，\"spokeupStreeter，fromhisseatinthewagon。\"IfIthoughthe’dbeworthhissalt，now，I’dtakehimmyself；but——well，lookathimthisminute，\"hefinished，withadisdainfulshrug。
David，ontheloweststep，wasveryevidentlynothearingawordofwhatwasbeingsaid。Withhissensitivefaceillumined，hewasagainporingoverhisfather’sletter。
Somethinginthesuddenquietcutthroughhisabsorptionasthenoisyhumofvoiceshadnotbeenabletodo，andheraisedhishead。Hiseyeswerestarlike。
\"I’msogladfathertoldmewhattodo，\"hebreathed。\"It’llbeeasiernow。\"
Receivingnoanswerfromthesomewhatawkwardlysilentmen，hewenton，asifinexplanation：——
\"Youknowhe’swaitingforme——inthefarcountry，Imean。Hesaidhewas。Andwhenyou’vegotsomebodywaiting，youdon’tmindstayingbehindyourselfforalittlewhile。Besides，I’veGOTtostaytofindoutaboutthebeautifulworld，youknow，soIcantellhim，when_I_go。That’sthewayIusedtodobackhomeonthemountain，yousee，——tellhimaboutthings。Lotsofdayswe’dgotowalk；then，whenwegothome，he’dhavemetellhim，withmyviolin，whatI’dseen。AndnowhesaysI’mtostayhere。\"
\"Here！\"Itwasthequick，sternvoiceofSimeonHolly。
\"Yes，\"noddedDavidearnestly；\"tolearnaboutthebeautifulworld。Don’tyouremember？AndhesaidIwasnottowanttogobacktomymountains；thatIwouldnotneedto，anyway，becausethemountains，andthesky，andthebirdsandsquirrelsandbrooksarereallyinmyviolin，youknow。And——\"ButwithanangryfrownSimeonHollystalkedaway，motioningLarsontofollowhim；andwithamerryglanceandalowchuckleHigginsturnedhishorseaboutanddrovefromtheyard。AmomentlaterDavidfoundhimselfalonewithMrs。Holly，whowaslookingathimwithwistful，thoughslightlyfearfuleyes。
\"Didyouhaveallthebreakfastyouwanted？\"sheaskedtimidly，resorting，asshehadresortedthenightbefore，totheeverydaythingsofherworldinthehopethattheymightmakethisstrangelittleboyseemlesswild，andmorenearlyhuman。
\"Oh，yes，thankyou。\"David’seyeshadstrayedbacktothenoteinhishand。Suddenlyhelookedup，anewsomethinginhiseyes。
\"Whatisittobea——atramp？\"heasked。\"ThosemensaiddaddyandIweretramps。\"
\"Atramp？Oh——er——why，justa——atramp，\"stammeredMrs。Holly。
\"Butnevermindthat，David。I——Iwouldn’tthinkanymoreaboutit。\"
\"Butwhatisatramp？\"persistedDavid，asmoulderingfirebeginningtoshowinhiseyes。\"BecauseiftheymeantTHIEVES——\"
\"No，no，David，\"interruptedMrs。Hollysoothingly。\"Theynevermeantthievesatall。\"
\"Then，whatisittobeatramp？\"
\"Why，it’sjustto——totramp，\"explainedMrs。Hollydesperately；——\"walkalongtheroadfromonetowntoanother，and——andnotliveinahouseatall。\"
\"Oh！\"David’sfacecleared。\"That’sallright，then。I’dlovetobeatramp，andso’dfather。Andweweretramps，sometimes，too，’causelotsoftimes，inthesummer，wedidn’tstayinthecabinhardlyany——justlivedoutofdoorsalldayandallnight。Why，I
neverknewreallywhatthepinetreesweresayingtillIheardthematnight，lyingunderthem。YouknowwhatImean。You’veheardthem，haven’tyou？\"
\"Atnight？Pinetrees？\"stammeredMrs。Hollyhelplessly。
\"Yes。Oh，haven’tyoueverheardthematnight？\"criedtheboy，inhisvoiceaverygenuinesympathyasforagrievousloss。
\"Why，then，ifyou’veonlyheardthemdaytimes，youdon’tknowabitwhatpinetreesreallyare。ButIcantellyou。Listen！Thisiswhattheysay，\"finishedtheboy，whippinghisviolinfromitscase，and，afteraswifttestingofthestrings，plungingintoaweird，hauntinglittlemelody。
Inthedoorway，Mrs。Holly，bewildered，yetbewitched，stoodmotionless，hereyeshalf-fearfully，half-longinglyfixedonDavid’sglorifiedface。ShewasstillinthesamepositionwhenSimeonHollycamearoundthecornerofthehouse。
\"Well，Ellen，\"hebegan，withquietscorn，afteramoment’ssternwatchingofthescenebeforehim，\"haveyounothingbettertodothismorningthantolistentothisminstrelfellow？\"
\"Oh，Simeon！Why，yes，ofcourse。I——Iforgot——whatIwasdoing，\"
falteredMrs。Holly，flushingguiltilyfromnecktobrowassheturnedandhurriedintothehouse。
David，ontheporchsteps，seemedtohaveheardnothing。Hewasstillplaying，hisraptgazeonthedistantsky-line，whenSimeonHollyturneduponhimwithdisapprovingeyes。
\"Seehere，boy，can’tyoudoanythingbutfiddle？\"hedemanded。
Then，asDavidstillcontinuedtoplay，headdedsharply：\"Didn’tyouhearme，boy？\"
Themusicstoppedabruptly。Davidlookedupwiththeslightlydazedairofonewhohasbeensummonedasfromanotherworld。
\"Didyouspeaktome，sir？\"heasked。
\"Idid——twice。Iaskedifyouneverdidanythingbutplaythatfiddle。\"
\"Youmeanathome？\"David’sfaceexpressedmildwonderwithoutatraceofangerorresentment。\"Why，yes，ofcourse。Icouldn’tplayALLthetime，youknow。Ihadtoeatandsleepandstudymybooks；andeverydaywewenttowalk——liketramps，asyoucallthem，\"heelucidated，hisfacebrighteningwithobviousdelightatbeingable，foronce，toexplainmattersintermsthathefeltsurewouldbeunderstood。
\"Tramps，indeed！\"mutteredSimeonHolly，underhisbreath。Then，sharply：\"Didyouneverperformanyusefullabor，boy？Wereyourdaysalwaysspentinthisungodlyidleness？\"
AgainDavidfrownedinmildwonder。
\"Oh，Iwasn’tidle，sir。FathersaidImustneverbethat。HesaideveryinstrumentwasneededinthegreatOrchestraofLife；
andthatIwasone，youknow，evenifIwasonlyalittleboy。
AndhesaidifIkeptstillanddidn’tdomypart，theharmonywouldn’tbecomplete，and——\"
\"Yes，yes，butnevermindthatnow，boy，\"interruptedSimeonHolly，withharshimpatience。\"Imean，didheneversetyoutowork——realwork？\"
\"Work？\"Davidmeditatedagain。Thensuddenlyhisfacecleared。
\"Oh，yes，sir，hesaidIhadabeautifulworktodo，andthatitwaswaitingformeoutintheworld。That’swhywecamedownfromthemountain，youknow，tofindit。Isthatwhatyoumean？\"
\"Well，no，\"retortedtheman，\"Ican’tsaythatitwas。Iwasreferringtowork——realworkaboutthehouse。Didyouneverdoanyofthat？\"
Davidgavearelievedlaugh。
\"Oh，youmeangettingthemealsandtidyingupthehouse，\"hereplied。\"Oh，yes，Ididthatwithfather，only\"——hisfacegrewwistful——\"I’mafraidIdidn’tdoitverywell。Mybaconwasneverasniceandcrispasfather’s，andthefirewasalwaysspoilingmypotatoes。\"
\"Humph！baconandpotatoes，indeed！\"scornedSimeonHolly。\"Well，boy，wecallthatwomen’sworkdownhere。Wesetmentosomethingelse。Doyouseethatwoodpilebythesheddoor？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Verygood。Inthekitchenyou’llfindanemptywoodbox。Doyouthinkyoucouldfillitwithwoodfromthatwoodpile？You’llfindplentyofshort，smallsticksalreadychopped。\"
\"Oh，yes，sir，I’dliketo，\"noddedDavid，hastilybutcarefullytuckinghisviolinintoitscase。Aminutelaterhehadattackedthewoodpilewithawill；andSimeonHolly，afterasharplywatchfulglance，hadturnedaway。
Butthewoodbox，afterall，wasnotfilled。Atleast，itwasnotfilledimmediately。forattheverybeginningofgatheringthesecondarmfulofwood，Davidpickedupastickthathadlonglaininonepositionontheground，therebydisclosingsundryanddiversecrawlingthingsofmanylegs，whichfilledDavid’ssoulwithdelight，anddroveawayeverythoughtoftheemptywoodbox。
Itwasonlyamatterofsomestrengthandmorepatience，andstillmoretime，tooverturnotherandbiggersticks，tofindotherandbiggerofthemany-legged，many-jointedcreatures。One，indeed，wassoverywonderfulthatDavid，withawhoopofglee，summonedMrs。Hollyfromthesheddoorwaytocomeandsee。
SourgentwashispleathatMrs。Hollycamewithhurriedsteps——butshewentawaywithstepsevenmorehurried；andDavid，sittingbackonhiswoodpileseat，waslefttowonderwhysheshouldscreamandshudderandsay\"Ugh-h-h！\"atsuchabeautiful，interestingthingaswasthislittlecreaturewholivedinherwoodpile。