Just David

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LukeJavan8
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Just David

Postby LukeJavan8 » Wed Aug 14, 2013 5:12 pm

JUST DAVID
I don't know where to post this exactly, so am doing so on this
thread, because it is the one I come to most often, though
I know you all are all over the site.
Somewhere in this thread on a topic I've long forgotten one
of you mentioned a book that exemplified whatever it was
that we were talking about. And I want to thank whoever
it was. I went and bought the book, and when it arrived it
lay here for a number of weeks before I picked it up last
week. I think the cover may have had something to do with
it, as it has a velvet-clothed young boy with fancy lacy collar
on it: a painting by one of the masters, tho' I've seen it before
I do not know who painted it. It sort of turned me off.
Yet I picked up the book a couple days ago and could hardly
put it down. What a message: the orchestra of life, the song
of the day, the old drudges of people who visit and whose
lives were changed by that boy, David and his violins.
I know I will re-read it, (I hardly ever do that) and want
to thank whoever suggested it. I think, that this book, (and
few have ever done this) has changed my outlook on life.
Maybe I needed it at this point in time. Call it fate or destiny
or whatever, but this book came into my life at exactly the
right time. Thank you, whichever one of you suggested it.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----

Perry Lassiter
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Re: Just David

Postby Perry Lassiter » Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:50 pm

Complete title and author, please?
pl

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Slava
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Re: Just David

Postby Slava » Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:07 pm

Complete title and author, please?
"Just David". Eleanor Porter.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

MTC
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Re: Just David

Postby MTC » Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:27 am

Can't claim credit for the referral, but thought you'd want to know Just David is available as an eBook online:
http://gutenberg.org/ebooks/440
Last edited by MTC on Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

Philip Hudson
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Re: Just David

Postby Philip Hudson » Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:34 am

Luke: I introduced this novel when we were discussing gnomon, the part of a sundial that casts a shadow. In the novel "Just David", David saw a Latin inscription on a sundial that said it reported only the sunny hours. He took that as his motto. I am glad you remembered it and read it. It probably hasn’t many current readers. It was written by Eleanor H. Porter, the author of “Pollyanna”, and was a best seller in 1916. Pollyanna has become a common word to describe someone who does not view the world realisically. Neither did David. But all lived happily ever after.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.

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Slava
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Re: Just David

Postby Slava » Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:55 am

For lovers of history, here is the original citation to Just David from the gnomon discussion.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

LukeJavan8
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Re: Just David

Postby LukeJavan8 » Thu Aug 15, 2013 3:00 pm

As you say, 'maudlin', yes, and like 'Pollyanna' not very
realistic, true as well. But it sure is a nice book. Seeing
the beauty in everything is sorely needed when all our
news broadcasts are so dark. Thanks for the read, Philip.
I'd love to hear him play his violin.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----


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