Thanks for that. It's a good thought. But you know, I'm not so much looking at my own guilty feelings--rather, I'm looking at me and Elmer as products of the world we live in. I never see Portuguese or even poor Appalachian whites wandering around in my neighborhood looking for work. Elmer and I encountered each other only because we were both brought up to expect this kind of relationship. My Chicago-bred husband is not at ease with Elmer, because it's not in his culture.

And thanks again for the supportive thought. Of course I have to help him, and I really shouldn't berate myself for doing that. I don't think either he or I can really behave differently now--we're both doing the best we can, given who we are. I just hope that in future generations, that kind of help won't need to be given.