The Old Apple Dealer (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")

"The Old Apple Dealer (From 'Mosses from an Old Manse')" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story that paints a picture of a sad old man selling apples at a busy train station. Set in a time when America was changing fast, it looks at loneliness and the sad parts of life. The old man, with his worn-out clothes and tired face, seems stuck and doesn't really talk to people. While everyone rushes around him, he stays still and quiet, showing how hard life can be. The story also shows a happy young seller, making the old man's unhappiness even clearer. In the end, the story makes you think about what's left inside a person when they're suffering, hinting that there might be something special even in the saddest lives during a period of changing culture.