A curious singularity

On Thursday I posted my thoughts on Isaac Bashevis Singer's story "Gimple the Fool":

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this freewheeling, compassionate, absorbing tale. Most of us feel like dyed-in-the-wool cynics these days, and probably have a hard time fathoming Gimple's actions. But such wide-eyed gullibility doesn't stem from idiocy, but from hope and a helpless compassion:

I believed them, and I hope at least that did them some good. [...] Besides, you can't pass through life unscathed, nor expect to.