The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-16

With cold, aud stretched out her thin bony
hands to the FIRE. fell back step to give
the old creature room, but on my first attempt
to quit the ehimney.place, the dog growed,
and, as turned toward him, his eyes sparkled
so wildly that / thought it advisable to stay
where | was, and not anger him unnecessarily.
The woman now turned her face to me, and
after gazing fxedly at me for a moment, whis-
pered few hurried words in o language of
which l did Tot understand syllable.
"What pity" thought to myself " did
not understand q little Hebrew" l then look
ed carefully at the old woman, trying to find
out from her gestures what she really meant.
Again she began her whispering, turning her
head timidly toward the door, and pointing ct
the same time to the table.
81 can't understand you'll" / said, in the
usual pa,ois, hoping she would understand me
a. any rate. -
Hush the ~crons said, quickly and fear
fully, holding up her finger in warning; at this
moment the door opened, and the Jew, on see
ing the old woman by my side, went up aDgrily
to her, and spoke hsrshiy in the same unknown
tongue. The woman crept tmidly away,
wrapped herself more closely in her old cloak.
and lay down again in her corner. The Jew
then raid, pleasantly enough, to me-
Don't bother about the old girl; she is quiet
and harmless; but not quite right here" he
said, pointing TO his forehead. "When we are
alone, i let her do much as she likes; but vixen
strangers visit me, which is seldom enough,
she must keep in her corner. But here" he
added, in q louder voice, sis something for you
to eat-bread and Munster cheese, / lately
brought from Strasbourg, and q famous glass
of brandy, which will do you more good, fancy.
than all the rest the water will be hot by
this time. Alb, see it's boiling, and I'll mix
unn n ro NE tv,f h.
now, 60 To the table, and begin"
was really almost starving, and yet could
not swallow anything. That COMPOUNDED dog
bad his eyes still fixed so dangerously upon
me.
"The dog won't hurt you" said the Jew,
calmly, he is only not accustomed to stran-
gers"
But if had stirred while you were out of
the room, he would have sprung at me" said,
rather apgrily.
q smile, :" aud hasn't tooth left in his head
but he often pretends to be savage. The time
is long past since he bit any one, and you can
go up and pat him, sne he won't say a word"
However, did not feel the slightest incins-
ton to to try the experiment; therefore pro-
ceeded to the table, and cut huEch of bread
and cheese. while the old Jew stopped down to
the ire, and, after shaking something out of a
paper into the glass, poured the water upon il.
There" he said, as he came to the table,
now, put in as much brandy as you like, but
the sitter the better, for it will keep you from
catching cold"
What have you put in the glass, my
friend 2" | asked, as l held the glass to the
fire.
"sugar and water; the sugar is good, and
takes oil the strength of the brandy"
6. of 4
ciously; ard, if you've no objection, I'll mix
tor n yself."
"Not like sugar why it's the best part o.
it, said the jew, "only taste it, and you'll soon
away, and, after carefully washing the glass
out filled it afresh with water, and poured in
come brandy.
More, my friend-more," the Jew advised
me "that's not half enough, and won't draw
the cold out of your limbs. Why, my old
woman will drink stronger punch, if / give il
to her."
Thanks, thanks |" said, as turned away
the bottle, from which the Jew persisted in
pouring more into my glass. Pm not accus-
toned to strong drinks, and shall have head
ache tomorrow morning"
sob to morrow I'll guarantee you against
that" the old man laughed to himself; {" the
brandy is capital, and no one has headache
l really felt such a shiver come over me at
these words, Though, Of course, sseribed it to
my wet clothes,) and the brandy really tasted
30 good, that took no the glass and emptied
II st a drsught. By Jupiter how it burned
sand now you had better lie down, the Jew
said, after removing the brandy and other things
from the table, "it is late in the night, and,
after your sleeping draught, you will sleep
sound in spite of your hard bed. The beet
place for You will be here by the fire. Beforn
we GO TO bed, I'll put on some fresh wood, and,
by the time that is burnt out, you'll be warm
enough. The nights are beginning to grow
fresh"
VS. gled enough to lie down, so took up
my knspsack, which had dried little by this time,
TO serve as pillow, and the old man brought
me blanket aud q sheepskiD, regrettipg thas
he had nothing better to offer me, but al hiI
beds were occupied But I'll bring sou some.
thing to keep your feet warm" be added; thar
is the chief thing, and by the morning you will
be all right again." With these words be took
canvas sack, which appeared to me TO be
eminously stained, from the chimney nook, and
then, bringii & it to my feet, (for | lad lain,
down by this time requested me to put them
in it.
an the sack2" said, in amazement-
"whypr
"ohl you'll see how warm that will keep
your feet"
"No, I'd rather lay it over them that will
answer the same purpose"
"Not half so good, tell you," the old man
continued, and tried to draw the sack over nav
feet, but / strenuously resisted. There was
something 30 dangerous, in my opinion, in
knowing my feet we're in a sack, which COULD
not easily remove in the dark, if were Obliged
to spring up in hurry. If? Besides,
the old fellows pressing made me feel uncom.
mon uncomfortable Il may tell you so in strict
con6dence.) What reason On earth could he,
have for insisting on my putting my feet in the
sack. However, when the Jew found that
was obstinate, he laid the sack over my feet,
and went back to the fire instead of retiring to
bed a. had expected, and sat crosslegged.
staring 6xedly into the fame. Well, shut nv
eyes and tried to 60 to sleep, but somehow
could not manage it; the FIRE burned low, and
could see the old fellow still sitting there, but
but felt that his eyes were fixed upon me.
and that be was watching my every movement,
every breath. Why? l lay thus for an half
hour, and the strsngest feelings came over me.
Then had curious taste IN my mouth-thes
brandy, of course, bat why was it SO metalIicP
And my head began to go round, and my eve
lids grew heavy as lead. At last could stand
it no longer, and determined to jump up but I
was unable 70 do SO; my limbs refused me their
service, veil seemed to be let down over nv
eyes, and felt that deep, irresistible sleep
wsa overpowering me.
How long lay in this sort of half DREAMING
condition | do not know, although struggled
against this unnatural state with ali thu
strength of my mind, and should finally have
yielded to it, had not q slight sound Just at the
right moment come to my aid in resisting it.
The Jew, who was still seated at the ERE, moved,
gently and noiseessly il In true. still he GOT mn