davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

her parents as II she had been a girl
of twelve.
One afternoon at the end of August
we were in the sitting-room@-Mr Takiff
In his big armchair before an open win
dow, putting at his long pipe. Mrs. Ta-
kiff mending a stocking, Make work
ing over a piece/of embroidery, and 1
scanning the pages Of a Russian book
when Koppel the rhadchan. who had
taken keen interest in Makes future,
appeared before the window at which
Mr.. Takiff sat.
Good afternoon, Reb Nosen," he
said, with his indolent, oily smile on his
face.
"Sholom Aleichem." returned Mr.
Takiff, offering his hand through the
open window. How do you come here
at this time of the day."
What a question-hal ha! ha! hal"
The shadchan's laugh was dry and
cackling. Isn't a person allowed to
pay you visit? When one has mer-
chandise he should not close the door
against prospective purchaser" And
winking significantly he cackled again.
We'll. Reb Koppel. well,' rejoined
Mr.. Takiff somewhat eagerly, amy
thing new"
Sure, indeed. Reb Nosen. The very
article you are looking for is at hand,
and one to suit should rather say
becoming-an honorable Jew like Reb
Nosen Takiff. WeII'-spreading his
arms-''a young man who is rarity
among millions-millions, l say; of the
very, very choicest in the realm of
Lithuania. An Hui upon whom thou
sands of wealthy fathers are casting
their eyes and are trying to take him
into their nets. But no, no. said 1 to
myself, and my wife said the very
same this goldfish must go to no one
else but Reb Nosens daughter You
see"-he drew an old dirty, tattered
notebook from his pocket-"Baas Reb
Nosen L'Javolin Hui (the daughter of
Nosen for the Javolin prodigy. He!
hei heI Koppel the shadchan is no
fool"
We'll, well, come into the house and
let me hear what you have to say"
The shadchan disappeared from the
window and moment later was with
us in the sitting-rocm. He had an ex-
tinguished corn-cob pipe in his mouth
and he playfully swung gnarled cane
between his thumb and forefnger,
which were yellow from the tobacco he
snuffed He was a man of medium
size, with weazened head. which he
carried bent slightly forward and to
one side. His eyes, set deep in their
sockets, were overhung by shaggy eye
brows, his beard, though thin, was
broad and long. and his peiis fell to
his shoulders. He wore long caftan,
the skirt OF which registered his move
ments on his shining boots, into the
tops Of which his trousers We're stuck
The caftan was Of distinguished ap-
pearance, parted in the back in the
fashion Of a frock coat, but pinned to-
gether at the very bottom so that it
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26
CHAPTER XIII
THE BRIDEGROOM.

Friday night arrived. Having spent
all afternoon brooding in. the forest.
had not seen the chosen (bridegroom).
who had arrived a little before sunset
and was now in the parlOr chanting
prayers with Mr.. Takiff. found the
dining-room brightly illuminated. the
finest cloth spread. and. the best dishes
arranged on the table. and Mrs Takif
in a new silk gown and white apron
was reading from her prayer-book and
frequently raising her eyes in the di-
rection CT Makes room. She likewise
had not seen the chosen and was nerv-
ousIy awaiting his appearance.
"Tell Make to hurry with her toilet
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

in dividing the waters of the Red Sea-?
The Talmud also says, Be patient in
our Judgment and we must weigh our
words before We decide. Well. now.
Reb Nosen, I'll light one of your Prus-
sian cigars. and Wen instantly proceed
to business"
Mr.. Takiff took the hint and handed
him cigar.
I'm short" the shadchan resumed,
IT have for you a young mana jewel.
a gem, whose real value a Rothschild
only could pay for; and furthermore, a
real Talmud-Chochom Ben Talmid-
Chochom Ga disciple of wisdom. the son
of another). AS the Talmud says:
One should give his daughter in mar
riage to the son of the law The truth
is'-here he stretched his neck and
emitted thin curl of smoke-"that I
am too ignorant to mention the quail
tiles that prodigy possesses. A young
man that has the six parts Of the Tall
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

any Importance before take a little
snuff." the shadchan commented, wip-
ing his mouth and nose. 1T clears my
mind and eyes, and 1 tell you, Reb
Nosen. 1 become fresh and vigorous
after little sneezing. 1t is simply a
refreshment-a restorer of strength.
And tell you there is none better than
Kalman's snuff in the whole world.
It's real heaven ON earth, so help me
God, and it prepares me for active
work. BY the way, snuff does not cost
me anything. Kalman promised to
give me as much as / want gratis in
addition to the five per cent commits
sion he paid me for the match of his
daughter"
"Of the snuff we'll talk later" said
Nosen a little impatiently. Let US ap-
proach our subject
God be with you, Reb Nosen, have
not the Talmud sages said: Match
making is as hard as the task of Moses
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

Not long after this Count Losjins,d
stopped for q few minutes at the inn.
His coachman, who was a baptized
Jew. amused the barroom by talking
Yiddish and reciting Hebrew blessings,
which we thought very strange.
Makes little brother asked his father
what became of the coachman's soul
when he turned Christian. The inn
keeper smilingly replied that after
the conversion he Jewish soul was
changed into gentle one. Make
wondered very much and could not see
the difference.
Papa, what is the soul. anyhow"
Make asked her father with pensive
air.
"A soul is that part of godliness. +"
explained her father, that every Jew
possesses"
HAS not a gentle that part of god
illness in him, father?" asked the girl
again.
This is too deep for you to under
stand. my child" responded Mr. Ia
kiff. and puffed at his pipe. You're a
girl, and a woman's brain is not able
to comprehend such serious problems.
A Jew whose soul was present on
Mount Sinai when the Torah was given
to Israel, as the Talmud says, has got
that part of godliness because he an
swered: All that the Lord spoke we
viii do and hear 4"
This explanation did not seem to
satisfy Make will not the gentiles
have gan-eden Cheaven), rather?" she
resumed. Not even Count Losjinski,
who is so good to every one and favors
the Jewish people in Particular"
"Oh. yes, my daughter. The Talmud
also says: Gall good gentiles will have
the world to come. In heaven all win
be Jews"
1T will be so nice laughed Make.
'AI will be alike and there will be no
more Jews and gentiles, but all the
same, and the Jews viii be permitted
to own land in their own names, like
the gentiles. and will be allowed to
live everywhere, even in st. Peters
burg and Moscow"
"Oh. you fooli" interrupted her little
brother. I'm gan-eden all the noble
men will make fire in Jewish houses
and snuff the candles on Shabbos. And
Vanka, who calls me Christ killer, will
carry mama's prayer-book to the syna-
gogue On Shabbos. 1t will be so nicei"
The innocent little martyr. who al
ready bore the yoke of the Torah
clapped his wee hands and danced
with joy. -.
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

mud at his fingers ends, and can tell
the word a hundred pages ahead il
you stick pin through certain spot:
a wonderful scribe whose handwriting
is like print. and who can read Poskim
"a digest Of the Talmud) in his sleep,
so may the Creator of the universe
blessed be his name!-help me to ac-
complish my undertaking in happy
hour. OF course you know Rabbi Brill
of JavOlin; he told me that the young
man is shining star in Israel whose
brilliancy will illumine our holy people
in exile. AS to his personal beauty
here he shrugged his shoulders and
made a motion with his hands as II to
drive away an imaginary opponent-
"he looks like an angel. Gods grace
rests upon him. Tall, majestic, and in
his white and crimson face there is the
reflection OF angels. so may the Lord
send blessing wherever I turn"
He paused for a moment to wipe the
perspiration from his forehead. Nosen
Takiff nodded his head In silent ap-
proval.
"As to the dowry." the shadchan
continued. 1--WE have little to say. He
has been offered ten thousand and if-
teen thousand. rubles. but OF course to
an aristocrat like Reb Nosen-well. he
would go for a little less. L believe you
once told me that you were willing to
give your daughter six thousand ru-
5les. Well. when you get such a rare
gem you will not mind to add two
thousand. This young man is worth
every penny Of it, so help me the one
above-every groschen- Yes, this is
what I call a bargain which could not
be had by the richest Of our brethren
Why, did you never hear Of the Javo-
lin Illui?'' He looked with such aston
ishment at Mr. Takiff that the latter
bIushed at his own ignorance
$50, may the holy one-blessed be he!
help me find suitors for my own mar
riageable daughters-even babes have
heard Of himi Oh, Reb Israel" he
turned to me. as if just seeing me.
YOU here I did not notice you at all.
young fellows like you must not listen
TO talk of marriage" this with his oily
smile. When you will be ripe. enough
I'll get you a nice girl with a big
dowry.''
With my heart throbbing painfully
over what had heard went into the
dining-room. There I found Make.
pale and apprehensive. pretending to
read a book 1 thought detected the
sign of fresh tears on her cheeks.
In about an hour Mr.. TalOin came in
to the room where we sat. smiling
blissfully. My daughter" he an
nounced. next Friday your intended
one is going to stay Shab5os with US"
Make did not utter word. but her
beautiful face changed color, a few
tears trickled down her cheeks. and
the book in her hand slipped to the
floor. "Oh, Israel I am so unhappy
so unhappy she. whispered. and
without giving me chance to reply
she slipped away to her bedroom.
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26
CHAPTER xxi.
A PRoPosAL oF MARRIAGE

"A EHOEOoALt Or mA1NR1AIE-
Mrs Takiff often sighed because NAL
kele, as she fondly called her daughter,
was already going on eighteen and
there was nothing suitable" for her.
Shadchonin marriage brokers) pro-
posed many bridegrooms, and each one
whispered to Rob Nosen Gas they ad-
dressed him) that he had the very best
article in the market. But none quite
satisfied the innkeeper. AS for Make,
who Of course was never consulted
when the merits of the various candi-
dates were being considered, she was
as needless Of all matrir-onial talk of
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

might be technically regarded as hav-
ing but two corners and so be exempt
from tzitzis* Only the lowest button Of
his coat was fastened; the upper part
hung loosely forward, exposing large
red handkerchief protruding from his
inside pocket, where a snuff-box could
invariably be found
Good morning, BRIDE" the shadchan
bowed to Make. who blushed scarlet
at this salutation.
Go, my daughter, to the next
room." said Mr.. Takiff. I'VE have
something to talk about which is not
fit you should hear"
Make left the room, agitated and
blushing. But 1. in an agony ofexpecta-
ton, pretended not to hear the last re-
mark and remained In my seat
The shadchan took off his hat, leav-
ing his head covered with an old
threadbare skull-cap. and settled him
self in chair which the host pushed
toward him. tKoppef dropped a large
pinch of snuff into the hollow of his
left hand and raising it to his nostrils
drew in the pungent stun with one
long breath.
"Pshtzi! pshtzi! pshtzi!" he sneezed
three times, applying the red handker-
chief to his nose as a protection for his
host.
Il can never start conversation of
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26

sF'ringes. which, according to some
rabbinical law, four-corner garments are
to have.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01

Bring me your long coax. Josette
We are about the same height, are we
not? Wrap that around me. / Will
draw the hood over my head. You
must 60 with me. Will any one ques-
ton you?"
mo one, unless we meet jean
Renaud or the steward, and they are
both likely to be in the dining-room."
1--WE will have to chance that, then.
Come, no more objections! IT'S for
the Countess Anne's sake. l must see
her. l will save her. Remember, II
you betray me, you break your mis-
tress' heart!"
Every we'll, monsieur, remain where
you are" cried the girl, convinced at
last. II will get the cloak. For
Heavens sake, sir. stay quietly in the
room until return"
When she left him he stopped and
picked up the little slipper which Anne
had evidently carelessly left there when
she went in to her dressing-room to
make her toilet for the dinner, He
gazed at it. covered 1t with kisses, and
slipped 1t hurriedly into the breast of
his coat as Josette returned.
AS he had said, they were about the
same height. Her cloak fitted him per-
fectly. She wrapped 1t around him
and it completely concealed him. lay
Ing aside his cooked hat he drew the
hood over his head, hiding his face,
and then the two descended the stairs,
passing one or two servants who
looked at them curiously. Fortune
| favored them. Jean-Renaud was In at
tendance upon the marquis the steward
was busy supervising the service OF
the dinner, and no one else presumed
to interrogate so important a person
as the chatelaine's confidential maid
and foster-sister. They gained the ar
mory without difficulty.
There Josette left him after exact
| ing a whispered promise from him not
to leave the room until she came for
him. Tho door opening into the dim
ing-room, and which was yelled by
heavy hangings, happened TO be ajar.
| Through the opening between the cur
tains Grafton had clear view Of the
apartment beyond.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01

be under his right hand, that he kept
himself from falling. But presently,
IS he fearfully made the slow ascent,
his courage returned to him. He for
got the danger and began to feel him
self immune from It. England and
her service came back to him. Anne
sprang into his mind. She was there,
perhaps, behind that window, from
which the light streamed out into the
darkness, waiting for him, dreaming
Of him: he should see her in a mo-
ment.
The thought lent him wings, he for
got the dizzy depths below him, the
unscaled heights above him, he forgot
his imminent deadly peril, he forgot
himself. in fact. However, he relaxed
none Of his precauton as he pain
fully wormed himself up the face of
the tower. With each step he was
drawing nearer to Anne, that was the
burden Of his thoughts.
Presently his head struck the pro-
lection at the foot OF the balcony sur
rounding the oriel window. Here was
the most difficult part OF the ascent,
but he was full of confidence now. A
few more cautious efforts and his
hands clasped the coping Of the bal
cony. Slowly, painfully he drew him
self up, swung his feet over the wall
and dropped softly down TO the stone
floor
He was trembling under the strain
he had undergone; and until that mo-
ment he had not realized what it had
been; cold perspiration had broken out
On his forehead, his hands were bleed
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01
CHAPTER XXI.
LIKE A BIRD IN THE AIR.

~ RATION sprang lightly to
the shore. and finding
suggestion of a path up the
cliff, clambered slowly over
the stones, until he stood on the mar
row shelf Of rock at the foot of the
tower. He threw his head far back
and looked up along its slanting sur.
face, The clouds had broken now, and
though the sky was still adrift with
them racing before the wind. he could
see, around the black edge of the cren-
ellated top, a star or two.
AS he gazed upward that peculiar OPP
teal delusion which seizes people who
look up at the sheer pitch of lofty
building came upon him. 1t seemed
to him as though the castle were
swaying toward him. as though in an
other moment it might fall and crush
him. He lost all sense of the consid-
cradle inclination of the tower, or IL
there were any variation from the
perpendicular; it seemed to him to
slope back over his head, instead of
away from him. 1t was an appalling
sight. He stood at gaze a second or
two and looked straight before him.
This will never do" he murmured
IF | hesitate longer | shall be lost"
He leaned his forehead against the
wall and closed his eyes, breathing a
prayer at the same time, and having
recovered his camness thereby, he
slowly and cautiously began the as
cent. He put his foot on the first pro-
jecting stone and reached across the
rough surface until his fingers cutched
another jutting block Then he swung
himself into the air
lie looked neither up n\r down, nor
| sidewise, but stared straight at the
wet stones in front of him as he mo-
notonously plodded up. lie dared not
look elsewhere, in fact. lie found the
angle between the tower and the wall
presently and with infinite care he
made his way painfully upward. Once
he glanced quickly above him. The
goal was miles away, yet It seemed
as if he had been crawling up those
rocks for hours.
Once his foot slipped on a round
damp stone, and it was only by SUI
perhuman effort, aided by little
larger projection which happened to
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-01

After the dinner Is served. think.
when the gentlemen take their wine."
"Josette, ! must be taken where l
can see them at the dinner"
Ills not possible, monsieur" cried
the girl.
1T must be; there must be some
way, some place where you can put
me! remember! Doesn't the ar
mory open from the dinng-room"
HHes. but"
Take me there, then"
But your uniform! II they see you
rs you go through the hall?'
The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14
ITEMS OF INDUSTRY.

After an exhaustive inspection Of
electric railways throughout Europe
and the United States, committee ap-
pointed by the Swedish government rec
commended that the state railways aban-
don steam for electricity as . motive
power.
In spite of the heavy falling'on Of pig
iron production during the last three
months, 1903 broke the pig iron record
the total output, according to the pre-
lilninary report Of the Iron Age, having
amounted to 17,949,00s tons. against
1881 ,3O7 tons in 1902 and 1885, 1854
tons in 1901.
The work Of changing the gauge Of
the Mexican National railroad has been
completed at cost of $13,000,000 gold,
and the entire road, which was until a
year ago the longest narrow-gauge rail-
road in the world, is now standard
gauge from Laredo to the City of Mex
leo.
The Mexican railroad has erected a
monument, with suitable inscription,
marking the point where the globe is
crossed by the Tropic of Cancer. The
monument is of wood II feet high and
"a feet long. On the top there are two .
arms pointing out the two zones. It is
situated on desert ground few miles
south of Catoree
The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14
FUN on A STREET CAR,
And This Nonsense Was Heard Ia
the Sedate and Sensible City
of Philadelphia.

On Walnut street car the other day,
says the Philadelphia Record, two women
who evidently knew each other but slight
ly struck up this conversations: "Why,
Mrs. Brown! How dye ,do?" How dye
do, Mrs. Green? l wasn't sure it was you
at first" ''Ycs, it's me, all right. How..s
Mr. Brown" "Oh, he's all right. How..s
Mr.. Green?" He's all right, too. H6w.s
the children?" They're all right. Hows
yourn!" They're all right"
There was a slight pause, as though
neither knew what to say net. Suddenly
one had an inspiration, She giggled a
minute and then said: Say, my husband
asked me the other day what your first
name was, and to save my soul l couldn't
tell him. What is it,"
Then it was the other woman's turn to
giggle. "Why, it's Millicent," she said.
"Mlllcent? How do you spell it?" "Oh,
it's an easy name. M-i-l-li-c-e-n-t." "Well
you can't never say you amt got cent
to your name, can you?"
A scream Of laughter followed this wit
ticism, and they began to slap each on the
wrist.
The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14
.SELF-PROPELLING VEHICLES.

Out of $50 automobiles in the annual
exhibition in New York city, SO are cleo
trical and ITS gasoline.
The dowager empress of China recent
ly placed an order for so motor cars to
be made in Germany"
Will the souvenir craze ever become so
great at automobile shows as it once was
at bicycle shows Motor Age.
The motorcycle in America as well as
In France and England is beginning to
vie with the automobile for public at
tention and adoption.
One jarring note in the symphony OF
automobile color in Chicagorecently was
that q team OF horses furnished the
power to haul the band around town to
announce the fact that the automobile
show was open.
New York is automobile boat mad!
There Is hardly concern interested IN
the manufacture or sale Of automobiles
that does not anticipate some connection
with the power craft business, either in
building, selling or operating.
Enthusiastic motorcyclists Of Chica-
go have lately organized. Burley e.
Ayers, one OF the most enthusiastic
votaries of the spot in the United States,
ard who a few years ago did much to
promote the growth of the League Of
American Wheelmen, Is devoting his
efforts to popularize the new sport. Ira
H. Whipple. another prominent motor
cyclist, has also been active in promot-
ing interest in the new club.
The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14
FOREIGN.

Precautionary measures have been
taken in Russia against recurrence
of the anti-Jewish riots of last year.
Austria anticipates trouble in the
Balkans and is preparing to send a
large army to the provinces.
Lady Mimic. wife of the governor
general of Canada. was rescued by
servants from death in the blazing
vice regal residence at Ottawa.
A report from Toxic says that Admiral
Togo made another attack on Port Ar
thur the night of March 30-31. japanese
troops were advancing north Of Chong-
iu, driving the Russians before them.
The latter intend to make a decisive
stand in the Yalu valley.
Col. Andres de la Terre, secretary Of
the interior in the first Cuban republic
and a prominent officer in the last revo-
luton, died at Havana.
Richard Henry Little and Edward
Washburn, war correspondents of a
Chicago paper. have been made pris'
oners by the Russians.
The Cuban house of representatives
did not meet at the appointed time
owing to riotous scenes over contests.
The senate convened and heard the mes
sage of President Palma.
The Tomahawk., 1904-04-14

says: "For two years I had kidney
trouble and there was such severe
pain through my loins and limbs that
I could not stoop or straighten up with,
out great pain, had difficulty in getting
about and was unable to rest at aight,~
arising in the morning tired aud worn
oht. The kidney secretions we've ir-
regular and deposited a heavy sedi'-
ment. Doctors treated me for rheuma-
tism but failed to help me. 1 lost all
confidence in medicine and began to-
feel as if life were not worth living.
Doan's Kidney Pills: however, relieved
me so quickly and SO thoroughly that I
gladly made statement to that effect
for publication. This was in 1898, and
during the six years which have
elapsed I have never known Doan's
Kidney Pills to fail. They cured my
wife of a severe case OF baclzache in
the same thorough manner"
A FREE TRIAL of this great kidney
medicine which cured Mr.. Bierbach will
be mailed on application to any part Of
the United States. Address Foster
Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. For sale
by all druggists, price 50 cents per box.