The author finds out that good intentions alone are not enough when his attempt to be kind to an old man leaves them both feeling worse than before.
The Sampler
In a certain store where they sell puddings, a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the Christmas season.
Here you may select the one which is most to your taste, and you are even allowed to sample them before coming to a decision. I have often wondered whether some people, who had no intention of making a purchase, would take advantage of this privilege.
One day I asked this question of the shop girl, and I learned it was indeed the case.
"Now there's one old gentleman, for instance," she told me, "he comes here almost every week and samples each one of the puddings, though he never buys anything, and I suspect he never will.
I remember him from last year before that, too. Well, let him come if he wants it, and welcome to it.
And what's more, I hope there are a lot more stores where he can go and get his share.
He looks as if he needed it all right, and I suppose they can afford it." She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman limped up to the counter and began looking closely at the row of puddings with great interest. "Why, that's the very gentleman I've been telling you about," whispered the shop girl." Just watch him now."
And then turning to him:" Would you like to sample them, sir? Here's spoon for you to use." The elderly gentleman, who was poorly but neatly dressed, accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings, only braking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with a large torn handkerchief. "This is quite good."
