“But, doctor, things can't go on as they are! Right here in this town are people dying of starvation. And he has seven hundred thousand dollars a year! Can that continue?”
“No, I trust not, my boy. It will be better some day. But it must be left to evolution—”
“Evolution!” echoed Samuel perplexed. “Do you believe in evolution?”
“Why,” said the other embarrassed—“what I mean is, that there are vast social forces at work—great changes taking place. But they move very slowly—”
“But why do they move so slowly?” objected the boy. “Isn't it just because so many people, don't care?”
“Why, Samuel—”
“If everyone would take an interest in them—then they would happen quickly!”
The two walked on for a minute in silence. Finally, the clergyman remarked, “Samuel, you take a great interest in social questions.”
“Yes, sir,” said the boy. “You see, I have been down at the bottom, and I know how it feels. Nobody else can possibly understand—not even you, sir, with all your kind heart. You don't know what it means, sir—you don't know what it means!”
“Perhaps not, my boy,” said the other. “But my conscience is far from easy, I assure you. The only thing is, we must not be too impatient—we must learn to wait—”