Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-12-24

use. That is all.
Josephipe-so our little is baptised
takes from the box smallish piece of
bread, and eats, standing meanwhile by
the stove and warming her hands over
the now roaring fire. AS she stands
thus, we can see that she has wOmanly
face. The nose and chin are childish
enough, and the head is almost infantile
in form. But the eyes are old and large
and serious. The light from the broken
CRATE shines upon her bare feet. They
look far more comfortable than the old
wet ones.
Supper over, the girl opens the un-
couth bundle and sorts over its contents
swiftly, dumping them into the tub one
by one. Then a cloth is spread upon
the table, and the work of ironing be-
gins. 1t will last until midnight. AS
she stands upon the chest, bending over
her labor, the yellow light framing her
baby head, let us leave her. She is well
used to solitude. She is twelve years
old, and has earned her bread as many
months alone.
In the room two stories below, there is
also solitary figure. A more CHEEKY
figure, stout and glowing with health, is
that of Aaron Ashermayer, who sits by
CRATE, residing. His book, q Hebrew
volume black with age, he holds far in
front of his eyes, which glisten through
his spectacles like cats.
Aaron face is pleasing one to study.
1t is thoroughly Jewish face, broad,
short and horid. The nose is large, and
enjoys the traditional hawk-like bend.
The forehead is that of scholar-wide
and not high. Despite a forid mustache
and long, frouzy beard, the mouth sug-
gests an easy-going temper, almost
placid. The pawnbroker was evidently
extracting solid enjoyment from his
pipe, his book and the fire, in the heat of
which his large slippered feet basked
contentedly, for he did not hear the
door open.
"Good evening, Aaron" said young
voice from the gloom, followed second
later by the appearance within range of
the light of tail youth, with long black
hair like Romeo.
"Hello," answered Aaron. "Draw
up by the fire. It has grown cold since
sundown." Then, after a moments
pause" Well, how's the fiddler Has
it paid for its meals to-day. heard it
up stairs while ago."
cit has not been SO very good day.
Too much hurry on the streets. No one
had time for the music. No, there was
not much money to-dsy-not much.
The holy days bring Paul Laboski luck
never. But VINE caresW and the
young Pole snapped his long, thin
fingers at the CRATE good humoredly, and
showed his teeth in a cheerful smile.
He pronounced his name Powl, and
wore miniature of Kosciuszko in his
watch cover. Aaron regarded him as a
very superior young man.
The latter had poured out two glasses
of wine, slipped one slowly, and resumed
his reading. Paul sat studying the Goals
The smile with which he had defed the
holidays frowDs had vanished, and in
its place rested meditative, almost
solemn look. All at once he turned to
Aaron.
"The poor child up the stairs has luck
very much worse. No time of the year
brings to her fortune"
"Drink your Sauterne. What do you
speak Of? What poor child?"
Why, the little Josephine, the laun-
dress. When l have returned from
parties at one-two o'clock in the morn
ing, l have seen the light in her room
burning, and watched her shadow
working"
az thought she had gone. Has she
been in the house ever since her mother
died3 haven't seen her in months"
"Ever since. She has made much
effort to keep her mothers business.
To me she said once: Some of the
ladies know not my mother is dead. i'll
do the work go it shall please, am I wrong
to tell them not? They might think
was of size too small I told her she
did no wrong"
The old Jew said nothing. he kept
his eyes fixed upon the black characters
before him, but they saw nothing.
Aaron was a charitable man, and this
chilling glimpse of childish poverty
panied him.
EYES," continued Paul, show should
[ complain myself when see her? She
works very hard, but she gets ahead not
one STEP"
"But you say she has plenty to do"
"Ah, yes, but also plenty to pay. Her
mother was in debt much"
Aaron put aside his book, and took off
his big glasses. Then he drank mis- Wis
itor's wine mechanically, looking him
in the face meanwhile.
$50 you tell me child not yet in her
teens works at washing and ironing, and
supports herself, and pays for two rooms,
and is paying the debt of the dead into
the bar5ai0-and you pypacf ma IN ha
lieve this? Herr Powl you compose
very beautiful poems On your violin.
enjoy them. That is all right. Do not
make them with your tongue to me.
Perhaps they are equally good. I do
not like them. [ am too old"
Aaron took up his book, and donned
his spectacles with au air of vexation,
He.was not angry, but he disliked exag-
geration.
Il No, truly" urged Paul, "this is no