Page:Eminent Authors of Contemporary Japan, volume 2.pdf/148

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124
The Patron Saint of a Shop-boy

no need of keeping up appearances. He felt that he could eat to his heart’s content.

The mistress came to him, and pouring out a cup of tea for him, she said smilingly, “Won’t you have another dish?” The boy blushed a little, and said, “No, think you,” and hanging his head, he propared to leave.

“Will you please come again another time, and have same more? We have received too much money.”

The boy was silent.

“Have you been long acquainted with that gentleman?”

“No.”

“Well, …” said the mistress, and meeting the eyes of her husband who came into the shop at that moment, she added, “That gentleman is a gallant. Now, you must come again, young man, or we shall be at a loss what do with the excess money we have received from him.”

Parting from the boy, Mr. A. hurried to the traim, feeling as if he were being chased, and stopping a taxi which happened to be passing, he told the driver to take him to the home of Mr. B.

Mr. A. felt strangely lonely. He had heartily sympathised with the lad, for he realised his pathetic circumstances very well indeed. By chance he had been able to accomplish to-day what he had wished to do for some time. The boy must have been very happy, and he himself should have been satisfied by what he had done. To give happiness to others is of course