Then you can have it here to play on whenever you like." After that, in Joe's own hands lay the power to transport himself into another world, for with the violin for company he knew no loneliness.
Nor was the violin all that David brought to the house.

There were the doughnuts and the cookies.

Very early in his visits David had discovered, much to his surprise, that Joe and Betty were often hungry.
"But why don't you go down to the store and buy something ?" he had queried at once.
Upon being told that there was no money to buy with, David's first impulse had been to bring several of the gold-pieces the next time he came; but upon second thoughts David decided that he did not dare.

He was not wishing to be called a thief a second time.

It would be better, he concluded, to bring some food from the house instead.
In his mountain home everything the house afforded in the way of food had always been freely given to the few strangers that found their way to the cabin door.