A group of village children pick strawberries near the river and, when two girls grow thirsty, approach the yard of a reclusive, proud, and often crabbed old man who once sailed and now tends a small plot of land. Though neighbors pity him, he refuses charity and keeps to himself, but the girls' request for water prompts a gentler response and practical help. The episodic tale mixes children's mischief, community attitudes, and the old man's maritime memories, quietly examining pride, loneliness, and how small acts of kindness can soften long-standing reserve.