wegi he established in the castle in his father’s place, but David, who was the youngest, was sent out to herd the calves.
What a boy David was! If he struck out at the calves with his oaken stick, he would throw them all down, and forty others beside. Once he drove the calves to the top of the mountain. He found a herdsman there who was abusing his calves, and said: “You fellow! What are you up to? Wait now, if I catch you, you will get something from my oaken stick that will make you cry Ow! ow!”
The fellow answered David: “I am ready to give my life for your head if I am not a shepherd from your father's village. These calves, here, belong to the peasants.”
David said, “If that is so, watch my calves also. I know not what time I should drive them home. When the time comes tell me, that I may drive them in.”
Then David drove in the calves on time that day, and Uncle Toross was pleased and said: “Always be punctual, my son; go out and come back every day at the right time.”
“Uncle Toross, it was not my wisdom that did this. I have hired a comrade who will watch over my calves and see that I am ready with them.”
Once his comrade tarried, and David was greatly vexed. It appeared that a religious festival was held in the village, and on this account the young man was detained. Finally he arrived, and David said to him, “To-day you get nothing from me.”
The young man said: “David, I am willing to die for you. From fear of your anger, I waited not for the end of the service of God in the church, and not one spoonful of the holy soup[1] has passed my lips. I drove out the calves and am here. Now you know why I tarried.”
David said: “Wait here; I will bring you your dinner.”
He set off with his oaken stick over his shoulder. He came to the village, and found that all the people had brought corn to the priests, who blessed it. David stuck his oaken stick
- ↑ Although the Armenians became Christians in the fourth century, they still retain many heathen customs which have lost all their original significance. They still sacrifice sheep and cows which have have on the previous evening been given some salt consecrated by the priests. The meat is cooked in immense kettles and carried around to the houses. The shepherd speaks of soup of this kind.
