Paris Spleen (New Directions Paperbook) (New Directions Paperbook)

"The Old Woman's Despair"

A wizened little old woman felt gladdened and gay at the sight of the pretty baby that every one was making such a fuss over, and that every one wanted to please; such a pretty little creature, as frail as the old woman herself, and toothless and hairless like her.

She went up to him all nods and smiles.

But the infant, terrified, struggled to get away from her caresses, filling the house with his howls.

Then the old woman went back into her eternal solitude and wept alone, saying: "Ah, for us miserable old females, the age of pleasing is past. Even innocent babes cannot endure us, and we are scarecrows to little children whom we long to love."