Christmas was coming. There was a man in rags (衣衫褴褛) walking in a hurry on the road. You might think he was a beggar (乞讨者), but actually he was an artist. His name was Vincent Willem Van Gogh. With a painting he had just finished, the poor Vincent entered a painting store.
"Can you buy this painting to help me pay the rent (房租)?" Vincent asked in a low voice. "I don't really like your painting, but it is said that you are hard-working and I want to help you, Here is five francs (法郎)," the storekeeper answered.
Although it was only five francs, Vincent was very happy. He took the money and said thanks, thinking that he could buy some food and pay the rent.
Near his home, Vincent saw a little girl in old clothes standing in the snow.
The girl smiled sadly at the artist asking for some help. Clearly, the girl was hungry and cold.
"Poor child! I should help her," he thought.
Vincent put the five francs into the girl's hands, completely forgetting that he still needed money to pay the rent. Before the girl said thanks to him, Vincent had hurried away with his empty stomach.
