Shortly before Christmas one year I almost stumbled over a little boy in the
middle of the pavement who was so busy playing with a toy merry-go-round, a
waddling duck and a walking man that he was oblivious to the crowd milling
around him. His obvious pleasure made me think the same toys would delight my
own youngster. I asked the little boy where he got them. "In there," he said,
pointing to a shop behind him.
I went in and asked for the toys the small boy was playing with. "Who is he?" I
asked, as the proprietress wrapped my purchases. She smiled, "you might say he's
my Christmas present. A few days ago he came in and stood staring longingly at
the merry-go-round. "Would you like it for Christmas," I asked. "Mummy says
there isn't any money for Christmas this year. We lost our Dad a little while
ago," he explained, and turned to go.
It had been a lean season for me: but it was the week before Christmas. I gave
him the merry-go-round and he was so delighted that he got no further than the
footpath before he sat down and wound it up. Then the most amazing thing
happened. People stopped to talk to him: and I've never had so many customers. I
kept count of the merry-go-rounds I sold and when he got up to go I called him
in and gave him a small commission. I asked him to come back the next day, and
added the duck and the man to his playthings. Yesterday his commission amounted
to $11!"
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to WITandWISDOM(tm) - December 19, 2000
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