Dr. Lavendar bade
David wait outside while he went into this shop, which the little boy
was perfectly willing to do, for it isn't every day you get the chance
to examine a wooden Indian, even to climbing up on his pedestal and
feeling his tomahawk with respectful fingers. When Dr. Lavendar came
out, David took his kind old hand, and burst into confidences.
"When I'm big I'm going to fight Indians. Or else I'll drive fast
horses. I don't know which. It's hard to decide, ain't it, sir?"
"Very hard. If you choose the horses, I'll give you Goliath."
David was silent; then he sighed: "I guess I'll fight Indians, sir,"
he said.
But a moment later he was cheerfully confidential; he had thirty cents
to spend! "Dear, dear," said Dr. Lavendar, "we mustn't do anything
rash. Here, let's look in this window."
Oh, how many windows there were, and all of them full of beautiful
things! Dr. Lavendar was willing to stop at every one; and he joined
in David's game of "mine," with the seriousness that all thoughtful
persons give to this diversion.
"That's _mine!_" David would cry, pointing to a green china toad
behind the plate glass; and Dr. Lavendar would say gravely,
"You may have it, David; you may have it."
"Now it's your turn!" David would instruct him.
"Must I take something in this window?" Dr. Lavendar would plead. And
David always said firmly that he must.
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