David Harum · Chapter
Chapter II explained
David Harum recounts to his sister Aunt Polly and Mrs.
What happens
David Harum recounts to his sister Aunt Polly and Mrs. Bixbee the story of how he sold a balky horse to Deacon Perkins. Through clever manipulation and selective truth-telling, David gets the deacon to buy the horse at his own price, and later enjoys watching the deacon struggle with the horse's balking habit. The chapter illustrates David's sharp wit and moral ambiguity in horse trading.
Themes in this chapter
Horse Trading and Moral Ambiguity
The entire chapter revolves around David's sale of a balky horse to Deacon Perkins, highlighting the ethical gray areas in such transactions.
Character and Reputation
David's reputation as a shrewd dealer is central, and the deacon's pride and gullibility are exposed.
Characters to notice
- David Harum
Tells the story of selling a balky horse to Deacon Perkins, demonstrating his cunning and enjoyment of the deal.
- Aunt Polly
Listens to David's story and reacts with exclamations and questions, showing her moral concern.
- Mrs. Bixbee
Also listens to the story, asking pointed questions and understanding David's ambiguous remarks.
- Deakin Perkins
The victim of David's horse trade, who buys the balky horse and later struggles with it in the rain.
Key passages
“‘That’s more’n I give fer a hoss ’n a good while,’ he says, shakin’ his head, ‘an’ more’n I c’n afford, I’m ’fraid.’ ‘All right,’ I says; ‘I c’n afford to keep him’; but I knew I had the deakin same as the woodchuck had Skip.”
The deacon claimed the price was too high, but David knew he had him trapped like a woodchuck.
David's confidence in his manipulation of the deacon.
“‘Consarn ye, Dave Harum!’ he says, ‘I’ll hev the law on ye fer this.’ ‘What fer?’ I says. ‘I didn’t make it come on to rain, did I?’ I says.”
The deacon cursed David and threatened legal action, but David feigned innocence about the rain.
David's clever deflection of blame.