davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

last breath. "Oh, batiushka!" he
gasped, clutching the priests hand.
But not another word. Incoherent
babbling was all could hear. The
priest took cross from his pocket and
pressed it to the dying lips.
1 rose unsteadily to my feet. The
members of the family were rising one
by one; the rabbits, crowded together
in a corner. were munching withered
cabbage leaves: the pigs under the
family bed" squealed and grunted;
the chickens cackled in the coop under
the ovenJ-it was daybreaK already.
Without so much as a thank you" l
slipped out of the hur, leaving the
peasant in his last gasps and the priest
whispering words of absolution in his
ears.
Vaguely I marveled that chance had
brought me to this hut on Just this
night: vaguely I thought or life being
a chain linked Of chances; vaguely
recalled the incidents of my life and
the chances that linked them together.
Little by little new.thoughts, new SEN
timents took possession of Ne-strange
thoughts. wild sentiments. This Bial-
nick-this supposed benefactor. A
fierce, savage desire for vengeance
vengeance at any ccst-burned within
me- And suddenly. like a streak OF
lightning ripping the clouds, the re-
niernbrance OF a face recurred to my
mind. All, Katia! Katia! Honey from
a singing bee.
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

others In cIuJhes Of the very latest
style; not a few appeared wealthy
their faces wearing the expression OF
the spoiled child Hale. robust lads
with broad shoulders and piercing
eyes were promiscuously discernible
among flat breasted, submissive-look-
ing boys.
A short, heavy-set man with small,
iron-gray beard and dull face walked
between the rows of desks, scrutiniz-
ing everybody with his stupid eyes and
noting in his little book every vacant
seat. He was the mashgiach Inspect
orr. He frequently stopped and spoke
to those seated near. as II inquiring
about the absent student. A tall man
with scottish eyes, purple nose and
curly peiis (ear-locks) Followed behind
the mashgiach, step by step.
A few students noticed me standing
near the door, but no attention was
paid me until the man with the scottish
eyes-who. was told later, was the
mashgiachs assistant-came to me
and asked whom I wished to see. I
told him I came to enroll in the yes
hiva. He glanced me over with a sa-
tirical smile on his facei and scratch
ing his left peii said: did you bring
your wet-nurse and your cradle along
with you?"
This sarcasm cut me to the quick.
He saw the effect of his words and
hastened to make amends Il mean
no HARM" he said. scratching the
same peii. Go to the rosh-h SILVA
(principaD, and he will DO the right
thing by you
The rosh-h'shiva lived in a luxurious
home next to the seminary. / ascended
the high porch and was admitted to a
brightly lighted corridor.
A tall, handsome young lady, richly
dressed, with the dignity OF a queen
and the arrogance OF a servant-girI
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

man." he said In a lowered voice,
pointing at another passenger, "a
man? Well, I am an ignoramus, out
you ought to know that the Talmuo
says: "A poor man is regarded as
corpse Did I ever promise you not
to carry corpse? And now as to that
blind gentleman, don't you know that
the Talmud says that blind man Is
exempt from all religious obligations
Now as to this youngster, he is no
man, as you can see for yourself"
These jesting excuses pacified the
grumbhng passengers. Turning to me.
the driver said: well, how much will
you give?"
'I-I--lost my money / stammered,
feeling the blood spring 10 my cheeks
from shame Of the lice
'Aha! little fellow" the driver said
humorously, you lost your money
hey? If you're as smart as that you
must have reached manhood and ]
agreed with these gentlemen to take
no more than three He laughed
heartily as he turned to his passengers
and wlnked.
I dropped my eyes and wished l
might sink through the ground; his
jests hurt me, and the passengers
stared at me curiously.
After a short rest the driver asked
the passenger TO take their seats, and
he jumped upon the box. My heart
sank within me as ] watched them
crawl into the long, narrow. closed
wagon ! would give anything to be
taken to Javolln. but 1 did not have
copeck. But as I started away on foot
the driver called after me; Where do
you live. young fellow?"
Tears filled my eyes. Where did 1
live?
He glanced at me pityingly. Jump
up" he said. and moved aside to make
room for me.
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

possible; so 1 tramped painfully, dog
gedly on, my legs growing heavier and
heavier. Presently the faint jingiing OF
bell behind me broke in upon my
hopeless thoughts. Turning about, /
beheld long, undiscovered hbitka,
the top Of which was quaint combina-
ton. of patches, drawn by two skinny,
bespattered horses. I stopped and
waited its approach. But just before
1t reached me its front wheels sank
halfway to the hubs in water hidden
rut.
''Phmtz-phmtz!" the driver encour-
aged his animals. They pulled with ali
their strength, but the wheels, evident
ly not well CREASED, oreaked without
rolling. Would that the black cholera
had you, you liniping old mares!' This
the driver followed by Tong string of
oaths, jerking the reins and whipping
the poor beasts mercilessly. Several
passengers jumped out Of their own ac-
cord. and this so lightened the vehicle
that the horses, by sudden pull, drew
the kibitlSa creaSing out of the rut.
''Nu, pritzim (noblemen)," the driver
accosted his passengers nalf-sarcasti-
cally, get move on you. You think
my lions tapping his horses with his
whip can carry you thousand miles
without a stop. hey?'
I'VE dragged slowly enough all
night" complained one OF the passen-
gers from within the kioitka. "and II
we keep on rowing at this rate well
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

was before my eyes No less than ave
hundred students were IN the snor-
nous classroom, varying from strip
lings Of is to grown men with long, un-
trimmed boards, sitting and standing
on both sides OF the long reclining
desks" They swayed yneir bodies
backward and forward, from side to
side, like so many pendulums in
clockmakers shop. while they conned
their lessons In as loud voice as
each pleased. and in as many different
intonations as the voices that uttered
them. Some sang Talmudic rules in
elastic barytones and modulated alto
voices; some reclted the intricate.
rever-ending, hair-spliting arguments
in plaintive, imploring notes, and some
piped halacIfas tstatutes) in sweet
soprano; some laughed and some
sroaned; some shouted and some
hummed In hushed voices; some talked
and some whispered; some winked and
some stared idiotically-an uproar OF
Talnudic learning! The sight was
purely oriental, unadorned by Grecian
art or modern European polish.
Among the clamorous rows Of stu
dents there were representatives of all
climes and of all generations Of the
race; old-looklng, swarthy Arabian
faces: delicately cut Grecian faces;
faces with commanding Roman noses;
sandy dy-complexioned Russian faces;
and faces suggestive OF Spain and Hol-
land and Germany and Poland and OF
nations unknown. In their thoughtfui
countenances. their gestures. their ner-
vous actions-in everything about
these children of a wandering people
a physiognonist might have read, as
from. an open book the same vivid
imaginations and poetic minds that
characterised. In ages long past, their
heroes. poets. and brilliant sages.
In dress and physique the students
varied as much az In their faces.
There were men in old-fashioned long
caftans. with corkscrew curls dangling
on both sides OF their cheeks. and
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

says he. I knew her we'll; she was
pretty girl; people talked about her
being Bialnicks mistress I want you
TO go to her house quite often says he,
and tell the people she is your mis-
tress' Yes says /. and 1 was set free
the same day."
He rested again and then went on:
"A few months later Marianka gave
birth to a child. The sledevatel gave
me money for Marianka; when / gave
it to her she took it ana cried. Then
one day Bialnick called me TO his Office
and asked me to own the bastard as
mine. did not object. What differ
ence was 1t to me? So everybody said
the child was mine, and 1 laughed.
Several years passed. had plenty TO
drink and plenty of money. The slede-
vatel was never stingy. The brat grew
like a sapling-the very image of Bial-
nick"
For several minutes he struggled
hard for his breath. The priest was
Ike a statue. My heart was throb-
bing and my head was whirling.
"A few weeks before Easter Bial-
nick sent for me. He asked me how 1
liked being called the father of an
other mans child. Would It not be
best to get rid of this BASTARD says
he-'better for me, better for your I
said II would. Why should one not
make an end OF it?' says he. told him
that would be a risky business. We
could transfer it to the Jewish ac-
count says he. l did not understand.
IL hof
didn't 1 know that Jews kill Christian
children for the Passover. Some Jew
would be blamed for it, says he. Why
not Yudel Abramowitch?' p I said he was
a good man; he had been very good to
me. Michael says he. you are fool.
Don't you know the Jews killed our
Savior and nailed him to the cross, and
they are still sucking our blood? Yudel
Abramowitch is a bloodsucker, says
he. He's skinning the peasants alive,
and he got all his money by his Jew
tricks and has a mortgage on all my
property All the time he had poured
out glass after glass of whisky-and
oh, batiushka. 1 promised"
Michael fell back on the straw and
tossed convulsively.
60 On-go on, the Datlusnka en-
couraged him. God will forgive you.
You have only been the instrument in
the hands of a wicked man.
Yes, yes. batiushka, only an instru-
nent, blessed batiushka," wept the dy-
ing peasant. Our Savior knows that l
did it in his name, as Bialnick told
me"
Not in his name" struck in the
pious priest "It was in Satan's
name" And he made the cign Of the
cross over his breast.
Yes, batiushka. in the devils name.
And while was in the DEVILS clutches
1 coaxed the child into the woods. 1
cut its throat and hid the body in the
synagogue"
He ended and lay fighting for his
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19
CHAPTER XIV.
MY NEW HOME.


The following morning presented
myself before the mashgiach, who was
also the examiner, and upon his recon-
mendatlon / was accepted and granted
a stipend Of seventy-five copecks a
week, though. Rabbi BrilPs beautiful
young wife insisted that ffty copecks
were plenty.
Before I was quite settled sauntered
difidently about the yesnIva. A num-
Der OF students. who would sneak out
as soon as the rosh-h'shiva appeared,
were always found lounging about the
lobby, with books under their arms
and lighted cigarettes between their
lips. For some young men came here
for the sole purpose OF being enrolled
as students In order that they might
obtain a reputation for scholarship and
so have their dOwries increased They
would chat, crack Jokes. play pranks
upon one another, criticizs the yeshiva
officials, make insinuating remarks
about Rabbi Brill's young wife, and
were altogether bent on mischief.
Seeing me, they began 10 make me
the butt Of their Jestss A tall, lean
fellow, with glasses on his nose. whis-
pered TO another. loud enough to be
heard by them all: Did this baby
(meaning mel bring his mamma
along?" A roar OF laughter followed
this faceticus remark blushed.
dropped my eyes, and bored my pocket
painfully. Immediately coiled wet
towel. thrown by one Of the group,
struck me in the back Of the neck and
sent my cap flying. should have been
FURIOUS al this insult, but I had only a
desire to sneak away.
"shrolke." exclaimed voice a.
was picking up my cap.
wheeled about joyfully. 'Ephraim!"
I cried; and we were straightway
clasped in each others arms.
"A mountain never meets a noun
tain, but one person comes across an
other" he quoted in Aramaic- Chaldaic.
He freed himself and turned to a
group of loiterers. See here, you fel-
lows, you'll find it good plan to leave
him alone" Without waiting for their
reply he led me off to his room. and
there we told one another of our ex-
periences. confided everything 10
him except my feeling for Katia. sub
ject too sacred for me to lay bare even
to my dearest friend. In spite OF my
deadly hatred against her father, she
was sweeter than ever to me.
The same day I obtained lodgings at
a poor tailor's for the modest price OF
twenty-five cOpecks a week, and
hoped to stretch the balance Of my
stipend so that it would cover my
board and other necessaries.
1 do not believe my landlord ever had
a given name. and II he had 1 am GER
tain he was unacquainted with il. In
the community he was known as Men
Ike Shmunke's-that is, Menke the son
Of Shmunke. And his wife, who
through SOME blunder 4 Providence
was made a woman. was commonly
called Groone MenSe Shmunke's. Not
withstanding their humble station and
names, GroOne always talked disdain-
fully of the ordinary working classes,
and so Influenced her husband as to
make him believe that he was re-
spectable baal-h'bos (bourgeois).
Menke was a small. man who had
probably ceased to grow at the age OF
u, as is sometimes the case with hard
working children His bones were
large and broad, and the more promi-
nent as the Creator had neglected to
cover them with enough flesh: his
cheek bones were high and the cheeks
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

who marries her master, came up to
me and asked:
do you wish to see the rabbi?"
Yes" 1 murmured.
You may see him IN his study
there" she said a trifie haughtily, and
pointed to a large room across the hall
way. the doors OF which were open.
stopped at the threshold A sOIidly
built man OF about 20 years, With a
calm. broad. square forehead. was
stopped over a long table. upon which
lay a number of open folios His un-
spectacled eyes skipped from book to
book as he turned a-few leaves of one
or scribbled few words on the margin
of another. Every line in his face
showed complete absOrptio1 / stood
for some minutes waiting for him to
take notice OF me. but he continued
bent over the. books. unconscious OF
my presence. So. 1 thought it wise To
cough.
He raised his eyes. What do you
wish. my child?" he asked in a benign.
husky voice.
/ told him that I desired TO enter his
institution.
He stretched out his little fat hand.
E "Sholam aleichem (peace be TO you)."
he said. And where do you come
fron?"
knew the consequences II told the
truth. I hesitated a moment and then
gave the name OF small town I had
never seen.
He was proceeding to question me
further. showing a little rigor IN his
tone, when he vas interrupted by the
young lady had met IN the corridor.
Miriam, how is Teplorka % he asked
of her. do we get anything from
thereT'
THE collectors scarcely make their
expenses" she replied authoritatively.
And besides, we have no trustees
there, and I do not believe that we can
allow Teploffka student any stipend"
/ did not know what reply to make.
I stood dumb between the aged rabbi
and the beautiful young lady ewho
afterward learned was his third wife),
like a Daniel between two lions.
The rosh-h'shiva turned again to me:
Perhaps your father will be able TO
send you enough money. so that you
won't need any stipend" he sug-
gested.
"I have no father murmured-
"A yosern (orphan)?'' he inquired In
a sympathizing tone.
Neither father nor mother" re-
piled.
The rabbi looked at me thoughtfully.
curling a few hairs OF his white beard
about his forehnger. His young wife
regarded me with anything but pleas
ure.
We'll" he said after few moments,
present yourself before the mashgiach
tomorrow, and II he reports your ex-
anninations satisfactory Wen see what
we can do for YOU"
'I don't believe we can give anything
TO a resident Of Teploffka," struck in
his wife, noticeably irritated, as II her
own money were in question Il looked
at the books the other day and found
that TepIoffka never contributed much
to the yeshiva-"
"A-a-my child" Che addressed his
wife also as my child. the rabbi said
softly, " Wen see o-mOrrow-a-a-
we'll see tomorrow"
A few minutes later was tramping
back through the muddy street to the
tavern where the kibitka had dropped
me.
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19
CHAPTER XIII.
THE YEsHIvA.

when We reached Javolin the other
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

necessary. He uttered curse good
naturedly. as IL his brothers request
was merely an everyday Jest, and
said: "Oh, Michael, you won't die yet.
and I'll trouble the batiushka Qittle
father for nothing"
Michael emitted a deep groan. God
knows whether-I'll live long enough
TO see the sun. Call the batiushka."
I shuddered. Basil scratched his
head again, muttered a few curses un-
der his breath, and put on his heavy
fur coat and his sheepsIin hat Il
know you viii trouble the batiushka
for nothing" he said, and slammed the
door behind him.
The rest OF the family paid no heed
20 the dying man. MY confession-my
confession" he murmured feebly. as he
tossed about c0nvulsively in the
agonies Of death. Once ne rose by a
sudden impulse to a sitting posture
and screamed: "Oh. the priestl Confess
sion-my confessioni" Nobody seemed
to have heard him: the family was
peacefully snoring; a rev pigs under
the family bed grunted and squealed
restlessly.
II must have been little before day
break when / heard approaching foot
steps Soon the door opened. and Ba-
sii entered with corpulent old man,
whose long, white hair overhung his
broad shoulders.
Here, batiushka,' Basil said rever-
entially, pointing a finger at his
brother, writhing with pain on the
ground
The bstiushka remained standing in
the middle Of the room, leaning on his
heavy gold-headed walking-stick. The
host produced a long, thin lath, which
he stuck between two uncemented
bricks Of the oven and then lighted
The naring torch cast mournful light
over the whole room, and brought out
the cadaverous face Of the dying man
with ghastly distinctness.
Michael" Basil said TO his brother,
here is the batiushka."
The dying peasant made an effort to
raise his head, but fell back upon the
truss Of straw. There was a convul-
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-07
M'LAUGHLIN IS DEAD
Noted Third District I,emocra. Died at
Dubuque - Was Familiar Figure
at Democratic State and National
Conventions.

Special to Times Republican.
Dubuque. July 7--After an illness of
only few days, Alderman Peter Nc
Laughlin. OF this city. better known as
Pete" to his political and personal
friends. passed away at the Findlay
hospital at $3.50 yesterday afternoon.
Possibly in this city or in this vicin-
ity there is no man who was better
known than the dead alderman. Time
aud again he went with the democrat C
delegations to pes MONIES to state con-
yantions, and every time he was con-
spicuous. AS a POLITICAL leader in this
city aud viEc!n:ty he came in contact
with many OF the leading politicians
of the state.
Several Years ago he was elected all
dernian from the Second ward. He
served we'll, and received much credit
Finally his political enemies planned
his defeat and they succeeded. Only
one election passed, however, until he
was allayed once more for the fight.
He was sent into the city council with
a big majority significant of his popu-
larity. He is known as the agitator
of the automatic gate question. and he
was considered the best parlimentar-
ian that the assembly ever had. Short
" before he was taken down with the
illness, he planned city park on the
river front. He sought the aid of his
colleagues and when it was suggested
that the matter be brought up he adj
vised time. In the meantime he work
ed an undercurrent for the park that
has proved remarkable. 1t is under
stood that the council will take up the
matter Of the park and carry it thru as
a monument to the dead councilman.
OF the man himself there is much to
be said He was of Il strange type. His
popularity and good fellowship made
him the best ward healer in the city.
In late years his power has arisen into
the city. county and district matters.
The Third district loses a good demo-
crat and the citizens of Dubuque
consistent and good alderman.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-07
For Sale.

I will offer for sale all of the real
estate now owned by the estate of the
late Lucy l.. Shorthill, consisting as
follows:
One farm Of 100 acres. three and one
One farm of 365 acres, six miles
southeast of Marshalltown. and three
miles west of LeGrand.
One farm of 256 acres, two and one
half miles north of Green Mountain.
One farm of 10 acres two and one
half miles west of Liscomb.
These farms are all well improved
and among the choicest of Marshall
county.
Also the following city property:
The lots and store room now occu-
pied by the Good Grocery Co.
Two lots, 50x165, just north of Pill
grim hotel.
Lot 60x1s0, corner Main street and
Second avenue, four stores and build
ing suitable for manufacturing.
One vacant lot on East Main street,
60x1S0. on alley.
Parts of lots on railway tracks, suit
able for coal office and yards, also
brick dwelling on Second avenue.
These properties will be sold for cash
or one half cash and three years time
on balance, secured on property at
a reasonable rate of interest.
For prices inquire of
GEORGE A. TURNER,
Executor of the Lucy e. Shorthill
estate. Marshalltown. Iowa.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-07
Waterloo Officers Have an Ex-
perience With a Hobo Who
Carried Many Diamonds
UNCUT GEMS FROM KIMBERLY
Arrested For vasrancy and Compelled
to Work on stonepiIe, Tramp Found
to Have $4,000 Worth of Uncut Da-
monds in Tobacco Pouch = Makes
Officer Present.
snecial to TimesRenublican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Waterloo, July with uncut gems
valued at $4,000 in a little tobacco
pouch, j. Micheau has been serving
a sentence on the Waterloo rock-re-
duction plant for vagrancy. He had
money also. but said before he would
pay fine he would see the city au-
thorities go to the hot place and be-
fore he would work he would rot.
Visibly agitated and demanding the
whereabouts of little cotton bag sur
rounded by q strong aroma of tobac-
co, j. Micheau, sign painter and globe
trotter, and man with perverse dis
position. rushed into the city hall yes
terday morning, after serving Il SEN
tence of five days on the rock pile for
vagrancy. The mayor and policeman
Quoted the mans fears by telling him
that an object resembling such a de-
scription reclined in insulation in the
rear part of the city building. With
out further ado, Micheau rushed to
where the little bag was said to be To-
Gated and returned fondling 1t and
smiling. When asked what was in the
sack, Micheau nearly paralyzed the
city officials by stating that he had
twenty uncut gems, which he had re-
Gently brought from the Kimberly
mines in South Africa. They are the
most famous diamond fields in the
world, and Micheau, being of an adven-
m n I'm tn
several years IN search of the precious
gems. When the Boer uprising took
place, Micheau left his kopje and
trekked to the coast, where he took a
steamer for America, and has since
been wandering UP and down the land.
writing signs, where work could be
had, and occasionally falling by the
wayside in a city where manual labor
is imposed upon those who are found
guilty of misdemeanors and who are
without money or are unwilling to
pay their fine.
Micheau was arrested July 1. He
had walked from Jesup to Waterloo
and becoming weary had climbed into
an empty box car. Shortly after fall
ing into the arms of Morpheus he fell
into the arms of a Waterloo police
man, and landed in cell at the city
hall.
This morning before leaving the city
building with his little bag of gems,
Michesu became generous and handed
one OF the uncut stones to Officer
as slight token of the gener-
Gus manner in which he had been
treated by that official. 1t is estimated
that at the least calculation this gem
is valued at $1,000, and at this average
which is thought to be a very conser-
vative one, Micleau has been carrying
around in tobacco pouch $4,000
worth of gems. Mr.. Mickey will prob
ably go to some summer resort and
rest for the remainder of the season.
Great Scott" calculated one of the
officers in the city building this MORN
Ing, "all that wealth around here and
we not wise to it. 1t makes me sick to
think of it,"