一个乞丐(A Beggar)

一个乞丐(abeggar)

atastreetcornersquatsabeggar.heisalwaysthere,underthetree,intheshade.senileasheis,hecrouchesinsomeraggedpiecesofcloth.heisthere,alwaysthere,likeasculptureinthestreet.dayafterday,thousandsofpeoplepassinfrontofhimhurriedly.somesparecoins,mostgiveaquickglanceindisgust.however,itshocksmeverymuch.whatamiserablelifeahumanbeingcanbear!

atthefirstsight,youwillbeappalledthatgodhascreatedsuchanemaciatedcreature.hisdarkfaceisfullofwrinkles,deeporshallow.theyremindpeopleofthehardshipthebeggarhasexperienced.hischeeksarebonywhilehisneckissothin.hishairisbedraggledlikeanest,anestwithacoatofoil.whatanimpressivesculptureitis!mostofthetime,hismouthspeakswhilehiseyesarehalfclosed.butonceapedestrianpassesby,hewillkeepnoddinghisheadslightlyandautomaticallyasifagustofwindhadforcedhimtodoso.atthesametime,heraiseshisgnarledrighthandfromtheground,murmuringtobeg.whatahand!itisaseamy,shriveledhand.thewrinklesinhisskinarestretching,twistingandintersecting.dirtfillsthegrooves.infrontofhimliesandilapidatedbowlwithonlyafewcoinsinit.believeitornot,itismoreandmoredifficulttomakealivingbybegging.besidehim,thereisastickasslimashislegsasifthethirdlegofthepooroldbeggar.

thesunisshininginthesky,butitdoesntshineeverycorneroftheworld.therearestillpeoplewhoarenotbathedinthesunshine.thebeggarisjustoneofthem.