
High up on a remote mountain ridge sits a modest shack, its walls warmed by a lone fireplace and its windows framing a sweeping valley that David loves above all. Inside, the simple furnishings—two violins, scattered books, and a few cherished photographs—speak of a life lived in quiet contemplation. When a weary father finally returns, his son David greets him with a clumsy breakfast and a heartfelt, if slightly embarrassed, apology for the burned bacon and sour milk, setting a tender yet fragile tone for their relationship.
From this humble beginning the story unfurls through a series of vignettes—letters, misunderstandings, and puzzling encounters—that reveal the characters’ hidden hopes and lingering regrets. As David navigates the mysteries of his family's past and the demands of the world beyond the mountains, listeners are drawn into an intimate portrait of love, duty, and the small, stubborn joys that keep a solitary home alive.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (323K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1996-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1868–1920
Best known for creating the endlessly hopeful Pollyanna, this American novelist wrote warm, popular stories that reached huge audiences in the early 20th century. Before turning to fiction, she trained as a singer, and that sense of feeling and rhythm carried into her writing.
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