"
From the hill upon which David's house stood, one could see a vast
expanse of water. A little island which lay not far from the coast lent
beauty to the scene by its wealth of verdure. No one lived upon it and
David's father visited it, from time to time, in order to gather willow
branches for his basket weaving.
David, who was now strong enough to help his father row and also to cut
down the branches, often accompanied him. One night his father said to
him: "If the sky and the sea stay propitious, we will both row over to
the island in the morning." David leaped for joy, and the prospect of
the trip would hardly let him sleep.
At dawn on the following day, as the sky began to glow and the morning
star grew paler and paler, David stood ready. He helped his mother carry
food and wraps into the little boat. It had once happened that the
weather had suddenly changed, and David and his father had been obliged
to remain on the island for three days, suffering much for the want of
food and covering; therefore, mother took the precaution to give them a
pot, a pan and some matches, so that they could start a fire and cook
something, if necessary.
As everything was now in readiness for the trip, David took his straw
hat, while his sister playfully pinned a feather in the ribbon.
"Oh," said his father; "get a couple of baskets, David; we'll need
them."
"What for?" asked David.
"You'll find that out soon enough," said his father, laughingly. "Don't
you trust that I well know to what use I will put them? You do the same
to me, as many people do to their Father in heaven.
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