Unit Seven
Text
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 and the 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 a 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 breaking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with
a large torn handkerchief .
"This is quite good. "
"This is not bad either, but a little too heavy. "
All the time it was quite evident that he sincerely believed that he might eventually buy one
of these puddings, and I am positive that he did not for a moment feel that he was in any way cheating
the store. Poor old chap! Probably he had come down in the world and this sampling was all that was left him
from the time when he could afford to come and select his favorite pudding.
Amidst the crowd of happy,prosperous looking Christmas shoppers, the little black figure of
the old man seemed pitiful and out of place,and in a burst of benevolence, I went up to him and said :
"Pardon me, sir, will you do me a favor? Let me purchase you one of these puddings.
It would give me such pleasure. "
He jumped back as if he had been stung, and the blood rushed into his wrinkled face.
" Excuse me, " he said, with more dignity than I would have thought possible
considering his appearance, " I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you.
Undoubtedly you have mistaken me for someone else." And with a quick decision he turned to
the shop girl and said in a loud voice,
" Kindly pack me up this one here.
I will take it with me."He pointed at one
of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.
The girl took down the pudding from
its stand and started to make a parcel of it,
while he pulled out a worn little black pocketbook
and began counting out shillings and pennies on to
the counter. To save his "honor" he had been forced
into a purchase which he could not possibly afford.
How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words! It
was too late though,and I felt that the kindest thing
I could do now would be walk away.
"You pay at the desk, " the shop girl was telling him, but he did not
seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand. And
that was the last I saw or heard of the old man. Now he can never go there
to sample puddings any more.
New Words
author / n. the writer of a book, article, play, poem,etc.
intention / n. purpose
sampler n . one wha finds out the quality of sth. by
testing a part of it
pudding / n.
delicious / a. tasting or smelling pleasant
select / vt. choose from a group
selection n.
sample / vt. test a part of
purchase / n. buying
vt. buy
advantage / n. sth.useful or helpful
privilege / n. special right given to a person
instance / n. example, case
suspect / vt. feel doubt about;guess or suppose
suspicion n.
afford / vt. have the money for
elderly / a. near old age
limp vi. walk with an uneven step
cownter / n.
spoon / n.
eagerly / ad. with strong interest or impatient desire
occasionally / ad. now and then; at times
occasional a.
heavy a. (of food, etc.) too rich to digest easily
evident / a. plain and clear (to the eye or mind)
sincerely / ad. honestly
sincere a.
eventually / ad. in the end
positive / a. sure, certain
cheat / vt. deceive
chap / n . man; boy; fellow
prosperity / n.
figure n.
pitiful / a. making one feel pity
benevolence / n. the desire to do good
sting/ vt. prick or hurt
wrinkle / v. (cause to) form into lines
dignity / n. calm and serious manner or style
appearance / n. that which can be seen; look
pack / vt. put (things) into boxes, cases, etc.
stand n.
pocketbook / n. a wallet for money and personal papers
shilling / n.
long vi. wish eamestly
unsay / vt. take back (sth. that has been said)
tactless / a.
coin / n. metal money
Phrases & Expressions
lay out spread out
in a row side by side in a neat line
to one's taste in a way that one likes
take advantage of use (sth.) for one's own benefit
for instance for example
and what's more also, and more importantly
all right certainly; beyond doubt
break off pause
come down (in the world) become poor; lose social position
out of place improper (for one's surroundings)
do sb. a favo(u)r do sth. kind to sb.
mistake . . . for think wrongly that(sth. or sb.)is
(sth. or sb. else)
pull out take out
count out count (things) one by one
long for wish very much for
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