T0 be happy in old age-at a time when men should leave forever the toil，anxiety，and worry of money-making-they must，duringyouth and middle life，have kept their minds healthily active.Theymust familiarize themselves with knowledge，and take all interest in allthat has been done，and is doing，to make the world wiser and betterfrom age to age.There is enough leisure in most men’s lives to enablethem to interest themselves in biography and history.They may alsoacquire considerable knowledge of science，or of some ennoblingpursuit different from tllat by which money is made.Mere amusementwill not do.No man Call grow happy upon amusement.The mere mallof pleasure is a miserable creature，————-especially in old age.The meredrudge in business is little better.Whereas the study of literature，philosophy，and science is full of tranquil pleasure，down to the end oflife.If the rich old man has no enjoyment apart from money-making，his old age becomes miserable.He goes on grinding and grinding inthe same rut，perhaps growing richer and fiches What matters it？Hecannot eat his gold.He cannot spend it.His money，instead of beingbeneficial to him，becomes a curse.He is the slave of avarice，themeanest of sins.He is spoken of as a despicable creature.He becomesbase，even in hiS own estimation.
“你尽力做什么？”我轻声地问道，希望自己不是责问的语气。他好像很痛苦，我所能做的就是不要和他一起痛哭。
“保持……正常，”他解释道，很快又去擦鼻子。“我的妻子。你知道……她六周前去世了，而我……”
“六周前！我叫了起来，内心充满了恐惧。“如果我的妻子六周前去世，我都无法起床了。”尽管我们的婚姻状况不是很好，但是我突然意识到这绝对是事实。
他点了点头，好像我懂了他在承受怎样的痛苦。
“我知道，”他又点着头说，“我知道。但是……我去热带旅游，整天都在喝酒，总算度过了感恩节。我甚至尽力去闷吃闷睡，希望能度过圣诞节。可是……我原以为现在我应该好了。
“但是，一直以来，她最喜欢圣诞节。直到今天晚上，我一直在听那些傻傻的圣诞歌曲。我放开了胃口，我喝酒、吃沙拉。可每当我听到这些歌曲时，她总是坐在那儿。我一遍遍不停地听着。然后就开始号啕大哭。不好意思，你一定认为我是个傻瓜。”
正在这时，卫生间的门又一次打开了，差点儿把我撞倒在地上。两个大学生年纪的年轻人冲到这位哭泣的男人身边。他们穿着昂贵的毛衣，脸上表情很严肃，叫这个男人做“爸爸”。
他们问他是否有事，然后背向我，帮他们的父亲收拾干净。
这个小卫生间里变得有点拥挤了，于是我离开了那里，让他们照顾自己的父亲。我本想问那个男人，他和他的妻子结婚多长时间了，不过从他的两个已经长大的儿子来看，我能猜测出他们结婚足足有二十多年了。
我看见我妻子的年轻的脸庞在烛光的映射下泛着红润，她那握着葡萄酒杯的细嫩的手掌呈现出优美的弧形。
……
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