THEIR FRUGAL LIFE—

While checking out at the main library yesterday the tawdry young fellow ahead of me did not have a dollar for the clerk who was attempting to issue his replacement library card.

At lunch, a bit later at the Coney Island Restaurant down on Main St., another fellow, who also looked like he existed fairly low on the economic ladder, inquired of the waitress regarding an order of toast to go with his breakfast.

It wasn’t included in the price of his menu choice but he could have an order for just 90 cents she told him.

He pondered the matter then passed up his additional delicacy. I found myself, in both cases, pondering silent prayers of gratitude.

Later, I noticed the tracks of a Great Blue Heron in the fresh snow on my pond’s surface; a very unusual visitor this time of year.

No doubt it too had difficulties with its quality of life—it being extremely challenging to extract one’s lunch from an ice clad pond.