保尔·威利亚德 /PaulVilliard

'scandyshop, , , , andhisheadwastoppedwithacloudoffine, snow-whitehair.

? Orlastlonger? , , '.

Ourhousewastwoblocksfromthestreetcarline, , 's.

“Let'sseeifwecanfindsomethinggood.” shesaid, , .

Motherwentintotownonceortwiceaweek, and, sinceinthosedaysbaby-sitterswerealmostunheardof, , andafterthatfirstvisitIwasalwaysallowedtomakemyownchoice.

, whowouldthenhandherapackageorabag, ', aftersomeconsiderableeffort, , Iworkedmywayslowlyallthewaydownthedisplaycounter.

-thegreatbigones, sotendertobiteinto, , shiny, , ofcourse, .

, “Youhavethemoneytopayforallthese?”

“Oh, yes, ” Ireplied, “Ihavelotsofmoney.”Ireachedoutmyfist, 'sopenhandIdumpedahalf-dozencherryseedscarefullywrappedinshinytinfoil.

, thenhelookedsearchinglyatmeforalongmoment.

“ Isn'titenough?” Iaskedhimanxiously.

Hesighedgently.“ Ithinkitisabittoomuch, ” heanswered, “ Youhavesomechangecoming.” , heleanedoveranddroppedtwopenniesintomyoutstretchedhand.

', evidently, whenpermissionwasgrantedformetomakethetrip, ', thewholeaffairinsignificanttomethen, wassoonforgotteninthebusyoccupationofgrowingup.

WhenIwassixorsevenyearsold, myfamilymovedeast, whereIgrewup, , andmostofthefishwereimporteddirectlyfromAsia, .

, , roundeyes, staringatthejeweledbeautiesswimminginthecrystal-clearwater.“Gosh,” exclaimedtheboy, “Canwebuysome?”

“Yes, ” Ireplied.“ Ifyoucanpayforthem.”

“ Oh, wehavelotsofmoney,”thelittlegirlsaidconfidently.

, theyaskedmeforpairsofseveraldifferentkinds, , handingittotheboy.“Carryitcarefully.” Icautioned.