佚名 /Anonymous
, alone, neglected, , lestsheremindthemthatpainandsufferingdidnotstoptocelebrateChristmas.
Ayoungcouple, smiling, talking, laughing, armsloadedwithChristmaspresents, tooknonoticeoftheoldwoman.
Amotherwithtwosmallchildrenhurriedby, ontheirwaytograndmother'.
AministerwalkedbyproudlycarryinghisBibleinhisrighthand, , andhetooknonotice.
Ifthesepeoplehadnoticed, .
, shewaitedforthedowntownbus.
Agentlemancarryinganimportant-lookingbriefcasewaitednearher, , shecouldhavesomethingcontagious.
'sfeet, butsaidnothing.
Thebusarrivedandtheoldwomanslowly, .“Senile,” hethought.
Alittleboypointedattheoldwoman.
“Look, mother, thatoldladyisbarefoot.”
Theembarrassedmotherslappedhishanddown.“Don'tpointatpeople, 'snotpolitetopoint.” Shelookedoutthewindow.
“Shemusthavegrownchildren,” aladyinafurcoatsuggested.“Herchildrenshouldbeashamedofthemselves.” Shefeltmorallysuperior, becauseshetookgoodcareofhermother.
Ateacherseatednearthemiddleofthebussteadiedthebagofgiftsonherlap.“Don'twepayenoughtaxestohandlesituationslikethis?” shesaidtoafriendseatedbesideher.
“Peoplehavetolearntosavetheirmoney,” awell-dressedyoungcollegemanadded.“Ifthatoldwomanhadsavedwhenshewasyoung, shewouldn''sherownfault.”
Andallthesepeoplebeamedwithsatisfactionthattheiracumenhaddeliveredsuchtrenchantanalysis.
But, 'sunsteady, wrinkledhand.“Here, Madam, getyourselfsomeshoes.”
, feelingpleasedwithhimself, thathewasamanofaction.
Atthenextstop, , amaroonscarfaroundhisneck, .
