Summary

The story "Hyacinths" depicts the unhappy life of a young boy named David. His mother died when he was only two years old and since then he has lived an existence that has been filled with sadness, fear, and longing. His father, Walter, was never a kind or caring individual and with the death of his wife, he views his young son as a nuisance.

When David is six years old his father decides that he's finally old enough to start helping out on the farm. He gives him a calf to take care of and warns him that the calf had better not die from neglect. The reader sees that there are some bright points in David's life as there are other family members who drop by from time to time to check on David. His uncles, Francis and Hirim, along...