English Original
Grandfather was a mild-mannered philosopher who believed there were two sides to every question. When debates about politics or religion grew heated, he would tell a story he'd heard from Doc Eaton.
It happened long ago, in a town still green with trees, not yet dominated by steel and concrete. Like many towns, it had its share of disagreements and, of course, a rich man. This man was a pillar of the Baptist Church, yet opinions about him were sharply divided.
Some called him a ruthless, tightfisted hypocrite, almost deified by some on Sundays. Others defended him, arguing his success bred envy and that his faith was genuine, despite his wealth.
Amid this controversy, the rich man hosted a gathering—a "shower" for the church pastor. Some saw it as a kind gesture; others, as proof of his miserliness, getting others to give what he could easily afford.
Both sides attended, curious to see inside the rich man's home. Guests brought modest gifts: apples, bacon, onions. All waited with suspense for the host's offering.
He presented a bushel of potatoes—large, clean, but ordinary, worth less than a dollar at the market. The critics felt vindicated; the defenders thought him tactfully modest. The host carried on, though Grandfather swore he saw a twinkle in the man's eye.
Later, the pastor examined a potato and found one end opened, with a silver dollar neatly inserted. Every potato in the bushel contained a silver dollar.
At this point, Grandfather would smile and muse: "It takes an almighty pile of gall to say what's in another man's mind." He reflected that while the New Testament says it's hard for a rich man to enter heaven, "it took a rich man to put a silver dollar through the eye of a potato and give folks some food for thought."
中文翻译
祖父是位性情温和的哲人，相信任何问题都有两面。当关于政治或宗教的争论变得激烈时，他就会讲述从伊顿医生那里听来的一个故事。
故事发生在很久以前，那时小镇绿树成荫，尚未被钢铁水泥占据。和许多小镇一样，这里不乏分歧，当然，也有一位富翁。此人是浸信会教堂的支柱，但人们对他的看法却两极分化。
一些人称他为冷酷、吝啬的伪君子，周日去教堂时几乎被某些人神化。另一些人则为他辩护，认为他的成功招致了嫉妒，并且尽管富有，他的信仰是真诚的。
在这场争议中，富翁举办了一场聚会——为教堂牧师举办的“送礼会”。一些人视之为善意的举动；另一些人则认为这证明了他的吝啬，让别人来赠送他本可轻松承担的东西。
双方都出席了，好奇地想看看富翁的家。客人们带来了朴素的礼物：苹果、熏肉、洋葱。所有人都悬着心等待主人的礼物。
他拿出了一蒲式耳土豆——个大、干净，但很普通，在市场上值不到一美元。批评者们觉得自己的看法得到了证实；辩护者们则认为他机智地保持了低调。主人照常应酬，尽管祖父坚称他看到了那人眼中闪过一丝笑意。
后来，牧师检查了一个土豆，发现一端被切开，里面整齐地塞入了一枚银元。那蒲式耳篮子里的每一个土豆里都有一枚银元。
讲到这里，祖父总会微笑着沉思：“妄自揣度他人心思，需要极大的胆量。”他反思道，虽然《新约》说富人进天国很难，但“正是需要一个富人，把银元塞进土豆眼里，才给了人们一些值得深思的东西。”