The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881, 1881-09-23
elves either byA clenched fist or by an

open heart.
One day va u Joseph as he was
going to distai Village for some wool
and hides which he had bought of some
peasants. On the road he was Joined bv
an old peasant who was vending his
way to the same village of which he was
peasant Josep sarne that he S,s had a1so aIo
a quantity of we'd for sale, and the bar
gain was SOON made Whenever it
would please Joseph he could come for
the wool, every child in the village could
indicate him, Waczlaw Smetana's house.
" You are Smetana?' asked Joseph,
and stared at the peasant with a some
what frightened look.
The tone of his exclamation must
have been insulting or offending, for the
peasant sternly fixed his eyes upon him
and spoke with ill-humor:
why, is this, perhaps, the name of
rascal, of one whe was rescued from the
gallows ?"
" How can you. speak thus ?" Joseph
protested; Il only asked you because it
seemed to me as if your name was known
unto me"
How SOP"
Il know a mani in our village who has
the same name, said Joseph, in a de-
pressed tone
"Then you know .my son, Parvel Sme-
tana, him who hassmarried the daughter
of the Jewess?"
Only after a long while Joseph pain
fully uttered:
Yes
He had turned deadly pale, his almost
inaudible answer could hardly pass over
his lips being clasely pressed together.
What an accidens2 Was it not Magda-
lena's father-in-l;W with whom he was
going? In the fAsJ Tnoass.,t of surprise
Joseph sought some pretex6 TO 90
far away from tie old peasant. bur lie
did not carry out tfis design he felt as
if he had to staytas if the life of hui
man being depended upon it. He was
walking at the size of the peasant who
spoke yet much Of himself and Of his
son, but Joseph did not seem to be an
attentive listener. All of a sudden the
peasant stopped n the road, and Joseph,
Notwithstanding his great hurry, had to
stop likewise, The two stood there
good while facing each other.
would you believe it, began the old
peasant, who, at that moment, had his
eyes fixed upon Josephs features,
could you believe me that a son of
mine lives in the village, which is only
few miles from my place, and also that
for ten years did not go to see this son?
A bad father you will say? I can read
it in your face, such is your opinion"
ITO be sure I can not say So replied
Joseph, hesitatingly, before I know
why you have acted thus
. My son has married the daughter of
the Jewess, the peasant said curtly, as
if by these few words he wanted to de-
pict the history Of the ten years.
For awhile tie men were again con-
tinuing their Journey in silence.
And you considered this a disgrace?"
asked Joseph, with quivering lips, and
a strangely agitated heart.
IS | can tell you" replied the peasant,
although you belong to the people of
my daughter-in-l law. Yes, | felt asham-
ed, and wanted to kill my Parvel, If he
had set my house on fire, if he had driven
me from house and farm, if he had re-
duced ga 1ea ate of poverty that
[ would hav had r9 beg in the public
street: aIl .ht would not have so great
ly excite r anger But the boy said
to me at taaa ruae that if | did not con-
sent, he would tie Two heavy stones
around h uacaand throw himself into
the Iser, here he wa or is the deepest.
Now, cou reruse my consent? | did
not want lose nay only son, and so the
thing happenst