# XIX explained — David Harum

> Chapter companion for David Harum by Edward Noyes Westcott.

## What happens

David Harum meets with Mrs. Cullom to settle the mortgage on her property, revealing his intention to prevent Zeke Swinney from acquiring it. He tells her a story from his childhood about a kind man who took him to the circus, illustrating his own motives and softening the blow of the foreclosure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Horse Trading and Moral Ambiguity

David's handling of the mortgage is a blend of business acumen and personal morality, as he seeks to prevent Swinney from gaining the property while also showing compassion to Mrs. Cullom.

### Character and Reputation

David's story about his childhood illustrates the impact of a kind act on his character, and his reputation is shaped by both his shrewdness and his hidden generosity.

### Family and Kinship

The memory of David's relative (likely his brother or uncle) who took him to the circus highlights the importance of family bonds and kindness.

## Character check-ins

### David Harum

David negotiates with Mrs. Cullom, explaining his business motives and sharing a personal story from his youth.

### Mrs. Cullom

Mrs. Cullom reluctantly agrees to settle the mortgage, expressing her hopelessness and recalling the kindness of David's relative.

### John Lenox

John is present to take the acknowledgments and observes the interaction between David and Mrs. Cullom.

### Zeke Swinney

Mentioned as the person David wants to prevent from acquiring Mrs. Cullom's property.

### Charley Cullom

Mrs. Cullom's son, who is unable to help her keep the property.

## Key lines

> I see how things was goin’, an’ I see that unless I played euchre, ’Zeke Swinney ’d git that prop’ty, an’ whether I wanted it myself or not, I didn’t cal’late he sh’d git it anyway.

David explains that he acted to prevent Zeke Swinney from acquiring the property, regardless of his own interest in it.

_David reveals his strategic motive driven by past grievance with Swinney._

> I was ready to sink into the ground with shyniss at fust, but that wore off some after a little, an’ we two seen the hull show, I tell ye.

David recalls his initial embarrassment at the circus with his benefactor, which gradually faded as they enjoyed the show together.

_David's childhood memory illustrates the transformative power of kindness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters/xix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters