Mother helps son's spirit resonate through book

Nine-year-old Wesley Morris jingled as he left Bishop Elementary School after a visit from the jester's mom.

Earlier, students had gathered before the jester's mom, Barbara Saltzman, as she read the book her son wrote before dying of Hodgkin's disease in 1990. Wesley also has cancer and continues to undergo treatments for leukemia.

Saltzman speaks to all children, but especially tries to reach those facing illnesses and painful treatments. She wants them to smile and laugh. That is the jester's story, and it is her son's story.

David Saltzman died at age 22, and his family made sure his book, "The Jester Has Lost His Jingle," was published as he wanted it. It became a New York Times best seller.

Barbara Saltzman, who also runs a related nonprofit from Palos Verdes, Calif., reads and promotes the book, which wasn't always easy.

"Now it really feels very, very good," she said. "I feel it's David being there with these children."

When Saltzman read, the children giggled and finished off the rhyming sentences. Many of the students had already read the book, in which the jester must go in search of joy and laughter when his bells no longer jingle. Some had created the jester's sidekick, Pharley, using brown paper sacks or ice cream sticks.

Now the students will work to help other children. Saltzman challenged them to read 1,000 pages and earn pledges of 1 cent per page before Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. For each $10 donated, The Jester & Pharley Phund will give a book to the Family Service & Guidance Center, which uses the books with children.

Mike Shepherd/The Capital-Journal

Wesley Morris, 9, plays with Pharley, a character in the book "The Jester Has Lost His Jingle," with Barbara Saltzman at Bishop Elementary School. Saltzman's son, David, wrote the book before dying of Hodgkin's disease in 1990. Wesley, a third-grader at the school, has leukemia and was given a complementary copy.