Whitman celebrates the common person.
At the beginning of the story, Feld, the shoemaker, yearned for his daughter to marry a man with a promising and wealthy future, so she could live a happy life. Later in the story, after two dates between both Miriam (her daughter) and Max (a young student), Feld was told by Miriam that she was not interested in Max, given her materialistic nature. Feld did not understand her reason at the time, but didn't give it much thought.
Near the end of the story, Feld realized Sobel's (his assistant) feelings for her daughter, but wasn't very comprehensive about them, given Sobel's old age and poor living conditions.
While watching Sobel's scorn after having his desires represed and considering Miriam could like Sobel in return, Feld had his epiphany: He grew comprehensive of Sobel's endurance to escape a land at war and to find any humble source of sustain available. Considering this hardship and his efforts to read books to gain interest from Miriam, Feld understood these endeavors were far more attractive and valuable to Miriam than that of a life of riches with Max. <u>Feld learned about humble love.</u>
