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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 was the equally great difficulty of keeping a small boy at
useful labor of any sort in the face of the attractions displayed by a passing
cloud； a blossoming shrub； or a bird singing on a tree…branch。
In spite of all this； however； David so evidently did his best to carry
out the 〃dos〃 and avoid the 〃don'ts；〃 that at four o'clock that first Monday
he won from the stern but would…be…just Farmer Holly his freedom for the
rest of the day； and very gayly he set off for a walk。 He went without his
violin； as there was the smell of rain in the air； but his face and his step
and the very swing of his arms were singing （to David） the joyous song of
the morning before。 Even yet； in spite of the vicissitudes of the day's work；
the whole world； to David's homesick； lonely little heart； was still caroling
that blessed 〃You're wanted； you're wanted； you're wanted！〃
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And then he saw the crow。
David knew crows。 In his home on the mountain he had had several of
them for friends。 He had learned to know and answer their calls。 He had
learned to admire their wisdom and to respect their moods and tempers。
He loved to watch them。 Especially he loved to see the great birds cut
through the air with a wide sweep of wings； so alive； so gloriously free！
But this crow
This crow was not cutting through the air with a wide sweep of wing。
It was in the middle of a cornfield； and it was rising and falling and
flopping about in a most extraordinary fashion。 Very soon David； running
toward it； saw why。 By a long leather strip it was fastened securely to a
stake in the ground。
〃Oh； oh； oh！〃 exclaimed David； in sympathetic consternation。 〃Here；
you just wait a minute。 I'll fix it。〃
With confident celerity David whipped out his jackknife to cut the
thong； but he found then that to 〃fix it〃 and to say he would 〃fix it〃 were
two different matters。
The crow did not seem to recognize in David a friend。 He saw in him；
apparently； but another of the stone…throwing； gun…shooting； torturing
humans who were responsible for his present hateful captivity。 With beak
and claw and wing； therefore； he fought this new evil that had come
presumedly to torment； and not until David had hit upon the expedient of
taking off his blouse； and throwing it over the angry bird； could the boy
get near enough to accomplish his purpose。 Even then David had to leave
upon the slender leg a twist of leather。
A moment later； with a whir of wings and a frightened squawk that
quickly turned into a surprised caw of triumphant rejoicing； the crow
soared into the air and made straight for a distant tree…top。 David； after a
minute's glad surveying of his work； donned his blouse again and resumed
his walk。
It was almost six o'clock when David got back to the Holly farmhouse。
In the barn doorway sat Perry Larson。
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JUST DAVID
〃Well； sonny；〃 the man greeted him cheerily； 〃did ye get yer weedin'
done？〃
〃Yyes；〃 hesitated David。 〃I got it done； but I didn't like it。〃
〃 'T is kinder hot work。〃
〃Oh； I didn't mind that part；〃 returned David。 〃What I didn't like was
pulling up all those pretty little plants and letting them die。〃
〃Weeds'pretty little plants'！〃 ejaculated the man。 〃Well； I'll be
jiggered！〃
〃But they WERE pretty；〃 defended David； reading aright the scorn in
Perry Larson's voice。 〃The very prettiest and biggest there were； always。
Mr。 Holly showed me； you know；and I had to pull them up。〃
〃Well； I'll be jiggered！〃 muttered Perry Larson again。
〃But I've been to walk since。 I feel better now。〃
〃Oh； ye do！〃
〃Oh； yes。 I had a splendid walk。 I went 'way up in the woods on the
hill there。 I was singing all the timeinside； you know。 I was so glad Mrs。
Hollywanted me。 You know what it is； when you sing inside。〃
Perry Larson scratched his head。
〃Well； no； sonny； I can't really say I do；〃 he retorted。 〃I ain't much on
singin'。〃
〃Oh； but I don't mean aloud。 I mean inside。 When you're happy； you
know。〃
〃When I'moh！〃 The man stopped and stared； his mouth falling open。
Suddenly his face changed； and he grinned appreciatively。 〃Well； if you
ain't the beat 'em； boy！ 'T is kinder like singin'the way ye feel inside；
when yer 'specially happy； ain't it？ But I never thought of it before。〃
〃Oh； yes。 Why； that's where I get my songsinside of me； you know
that I play on my violin。 And I made a crow sing； too。 Only HE sang
outside。〃
〃SINGA CROW！〃 scoffed the man。〃 Shucks！ It'll take more 'n you
ter make me think a crow can sing； my lad。〃
〃But they do； when they're happy；〃 maintained the boy。 〃Anyhow； it
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doesn't sound the same as it does when they're cross； or plagued over
something。 You ought to have heard this one to…day。 He sang。 He was so
glad to get away。 I let him loose； you see。〃
〃You mean； you CAUGHT a crow up there in them woods？〃 The
man's voice was skeptical。
〃Oh； no； I didn't catch it。 But somebody had； and tied him up。 And he
was so unhappy！〃
〃A crow tied up in the woods！〃
〃Oh； I didn't find THAT in the woods。 It was before I went up the hill
at all。〃
〃A crow tied upLook a…here； boy； what are you talkin' about？ Where
was that crow？〃 Perry Larson's whole self had become suddenly alert。
〃In the field 'Way over there。 And somebody〃
〃The cornfield！ Jingo！ Boy； you don't mean you touched THAT crow？〃
〃Well； he wouldn't let me TOUCH him；〃 half…apologized David。 〃He
was so afraid； you see。 Why； I had to put my blouse over his head before
he'd let me cut him loose at all。〃
〃Cut him loose！〃 Perry Larson sprang to his feet。 〃You did n'tyou
DIDn't let that crow go！〃
David shrank back。
〃Why； yes； he WANTED to go。 He〃 But the man before him had
fallen back despairingly to his old position。
〃Well； sir； you've done it now。 What the boss'll say； I don't know； but I
know what I'd like ter say to ye。 I was a whole week； off an' on； gettin'
hold of that crow； an' I wouldn't have got him at all if I hadn't hid half the
night an' all the mornin' in that clump o' bushes； watchin' a chance ter
wing him； jest enough an' not too much。 An' even then the job wa'n't done。
Let me tell yer； 't wa'n't no small thing ter get him hitched。 I'm wearin' the
marks of the rascal's beak yet。 An' now you've gone an' let him gojust
like that；〃 he finished； snapping his fingers angrily。
In David's face there was no contrition。 There was only incredulous
horror。
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〃You mean； YOU tied him there； on purpose？〃
〃Sure I did！〃
〃But he didn't like it。 Couldn't you see he didn't like it？〃 cried David。
〃Like it！ What if he didn't？ I didn't like ter have my corn pulled up；
either。 See here； sonny； you no need ter look at me in that tone o' voice。 I
didn't hurt the varmint none ter speak ofye see he could fly； didn't ye？
an' he wa'n't starvin'。 I saw to it that he had enough ter eat an' a dish o'
water handy。 An' if he didn't flop an' pull an' try ter get away he needn't 'a'
hurt hisself never。 I ain't ter blame for what pullin' he done。〃
〃But wouldn't you pull if you had two big wings that could carry you
to the top of that big tree there； and away up； up in the sky； where you
could talk to the stars？wouldn't you pull if somebody a hundred times
bigger'n you came along and tied your leg to that post there？〃
The man； Perry； flushed an angry red。
〃See here； sonny； I wa'n't askin' you ter do no preachin'。 What I did
ain't no more'n any man 'round here doesif he's smart enough ter catch
one。 Rigged…up broomsticks ain't in it with a live bird when it comes ter
drivin' away them pesky； thievin' crows。 There ain't