A Winter's Tale

The forecast called for the snow to continue.

"Three inches a day is fine by me," said the old peddler of shovels and brooms as is he hitched up his wares.

Making his way towards the next house on the lane he explained as he went. "I stop at all of the houses, you know. If their walks are all shoveled and swept and clear of the snow, well, obviously they take pride in this wintertime dance of snow flurries. They just might be interested in my fine shovels and brooms."

We walked on, the lights from the last house fading and the light from the house we were approaching growing stronger. Then he continued, "And those houses where they haven't shoveled the walk at all? I make sure I stop there. Why, it might not be because they don't care. They just might not have the right tools. In the summer I carry the round or spade style shovel. They are great for digging. But these flat and square ones are much better for the snow and shoveling a walk."

By now we were at the front walkway of the next house, the snow between us and the front porch deep and undisturbed.

"Now there is some snow that needs some footprints in it," the peddler exclaimed grinning from ear to ear. Handing me one of the shovels he said, "Here, hold this. We just might need to do some demonstrating!"

High stepping his way through the snow he led the way to the door.

You know? He was right. They just needed the right tool. And a little encouragement from a kind and exuberant peddler.