just david(公正的大卫)-第14节
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argument with her husband； and in extenuation； too； of an act of her own！
There was no reply except a muttered 〃Humph！〃 under the breath。
Then Simeon Holly rose and stalked into the house。
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The next day was Sunday； and Sunday at the farmhouse was a thing of
stern repression and solemn silence。 In Simeon Holly's veins ran the blood
of the Puritans； and he was more than strict as to what he considered right
and wrong。 When half…trained for the ministry； ill…health had forced him to
resort to a less confining life； though never had it taken from him the
uncompromising rigor of his views。 It was a distinct shock to him；
therefore； on this Sunday morning to be awakened by a peal of music such
as the little house had never known before。 All the while that he was
thrusting his indignant self into his clothing； the runs and turns and
crashing chords whirled about him until it seemed that a whole orchestra
must be imprisoned in the little room over the kitchen； so skillful was the
boy's double stopping。 Simeon Holly was white with anger when he
finally hurried down the hall and threw open David's bedroom door。
〃Boy； what do you mean by this？〃 he demanded。
David laughed gleefully。
〃And didn't you know？〃 he asked。 〃Why； I thought my music would
tell you。 I was so happy； so glad！ The birds in the trees woke me up
singing； 'You're wantedyou're wanted；' and the sun came over the hill
there and said； 'You're wantedyou're wanted；' and the little tree…branch
tapped on my window pane and said 〃You're wantedyou're wanted！' And
I just had to take up my violin and tell you about it！〃
〃But it's Sundaythe Lord's Day；〃 remonstrated the man sternly。
David stood motionless； his eyes questioning。
〃Are you quite a heathen； then？〃 catechised the man sharply。 〃Have
they never told you anything about God； boy？〃
〃Oh； 'God'？of course；〃 smiled David； in open relief。 〃God wraps up
the buds in their little brown blankets； and covers the roots with〃
〃I am not talking about brown blankets nor roots；〃 interrupted the man
severely。 〃This is God's day； and as such should be kept holy。〃
〃 'Holy'？〃
〃Yes。 You should not fiddle nor laugh nor sing。〃
〃But those are good things； and beautiful things；〃 defended David； his
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eyes wide and puzzled。
〃In their place； perhaps；〃 conceded the man； stiffly。 〃but not on God's
day。〃
〃You meanHe wouldn't like them？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh！〃and David's face cleared。 〃That's all right； then。 Your God isn't
the same one； sir； for mine loves all beautiful things every day in the year。〃
There was a moment's silence。 For the first time in his life Simeon
Holly found himself without words。
〃We won't talk of this any more； David；〃 he said at last； 〃but we'll put
it another wayI don't wish you to play your fiddle on Sunday。 Now； put it
up till to…morrow。〃 And he turned and went down the hall。
Breakfast was a very quiet meal that morning。 Meals were never
things of hilarious joy at the Holly farmhouse； as David had already found
out； but he had not seen one before quite so somber as this。 It was
followed immediately by a half…hour of Scripture…reading and prayer； with
Mrs。 Holly and Perry Larson sitting very stiff and solemn in their chairs；
while Mr。 Holly read。 David tried to sit very stiff and solemn in his chair；
also； but the roses at the window were nodding their heads and beckoning；
and the birds in the bushes beyond were sending to him coaxing little
chirps of 〃Come out； come out！〃 And how could one expect to sit stiff and
solemn in the face of all that； particularly when one's fingers were tingling
to take up the interrupted song of the morning and tell the whole world
how beautiful it was to be wanted！
Yet David sat very still；or as still as he could sit；and only the
tapping of his foot； and the roving of his wistful eyes told that his mind
was not with Farmer Holly and the Children of Israel in their wanderings
in the wilderness。
After the devotions came an hour of subdued haste and confusion
while the family prepared for church。 David had never been to church。 He
asked Perry Larson what it was like； but Perry only shrugged his shoulders
and said； to nobody； apparently：〃
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Sugar！ Won't ye hear that； now？〃which to David was certainly no
answer at all。
That one must be spick and span to go to church； David soon found
outnever before had he been so scrubbed and brushed and combed。
There was； too； brought out for him to wear a little clean white blouse and
a red tie； over which Mrs。 Holly cried a little as she had over the nightshirt
that first evening。
The church was in the village only a quarter of a mile away； and in due
time David； open…eyed and interested； was following Mr。 and Mrs。 Holly
down its long center aisle。 The Hollys were early as usual； and service had
not begun。 Even the organist had not taken his seat beneath the great pipes
of blue and gold that towered to the ceiling。
It was the pride of the townthat organ。 It had been given by a great
man （out in the world） whose birthplace the town was。 More than that； a
yearly donation from this same great man paid for the skilled organist who
came every Sunday from the city to play it。 To…day； as the organist took his
seat； he noticed a new face in the Holly pew； and he almost gave a friendly
smile as he met the wondering gaze of the small boy there； then he lost
himself； as usual； in the music before him。
Down in the Holly pew the small boy held his breath。 A score of
violins were singing in his ears； and a score of other instruments that he
could not name； crashed over his head； and brought him to his feet in
ecstasy。 Before a detaining hand could stop him； he was out in the aisle；
his eyes on the blue…and…gold pipes from which seemed to come those
wondrous sounds。 Then his gaze fell on the man and on the banks of keys；
and with soft steps he crept along the aisle and up the stairs to the organ…
loft。
For long minutes he stood motionless； listening； then the music died
into silence and the minister rose for the invocation。 It was a boy's voice；
and not a man's； however； that broke the pause。
〃Oh； sir； please；〃 it said； 〃would youcould you teach ME to do that？〃
The organist choked over a cough； and the soprano reached out and
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drew David to her side； whispering something in his ear。 The minister；
after a dazed silence； bowed his head； while down in the Holly pew an
angry man and a sorely mortified woman vowed that； before David came
to church again； he should have learned some things。
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CHAPTER VIII
THE PUZZLING 〃DOS〃 AND
〃DON'TS〃
With the coming of Monday arrived a new life for Davida curious
life full of 〃don'ts〃 and 〃dos。〃 David wondered sometimes why all the
pleasant things were 〃don'ts〃 and all the unpleasant ones 〃dos。〃 Corn to be
hoed； weeds to be pulled； woodboxes to be filled； with all these it was 〃do
this； do this； do this。〃 But when it came to lying under the apple trees；
exploring the brook that ran by the field； or even watching the bugs and
worms that one found in the earthall these were 〃don'ts。〃
As to Farmer HollyFarmer Holly himself awoke to some new
experiences that Monday morning。 One of them was the difficulty in
successfully combating the cheerfully expressed opinion that weeds were
so pretty growing that it was a pity to pull them up and let them all wither
and die。 Another w
