The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

ordinary working people. ADMIT tnat
/ would be no more than Yankle, Chain
or Todres. But when God blessed us
with such a son--well, you can't help
feeling a little proud, as the Talmud
says-heI hel you will excuse me If
misquote 1t; 1 am only woman (and
her countenance assumed a smiling
grimace), but / think it says that good
children pull their parents out of the
blazes of hell, and of course a person
can't help, you know, feeling a trifie
elated over such a blessing. AS I say
it is not in our nature, neither in mine
nor in my husbands may he live a
hundred and twenty yearsD-but really
what do you think Of our Shmunke :?
Are there any brighter boys in the
yeshiva? Really, l am only a poor,
ignorant woman; but is there anybody
who knows more than Shmunke? And
-" She suddenly checked herself and
with a beaming face she said: Il hear
him coming. and must be quick. My!
myi How hungry my poor darling must
be-"
And IN jiffy the table in our room
was covered with white cloth and a
savory dinner was set upon it. Menke
and his wife never breakfasted on any
thing better than black bread and CHI
cory. and their second meal (for they
ate twice day only) consisted of the
same rye bread. a piece of herring and
milk washed barley.
When Shmunke was in the house his
parents never talked above a whisper;
then their thoughts seemed to be CEN
tered upon him alone. Late at night,
while Shmunke pondered in the yeshiva
over some commentary upon the Tai
Katia, Menke and Groone would hold
mud. and while 1 sleepily thought of
council regarding their ben-yochid's s
future. The subject was always the
same. and their talk always was much
as fellows:
''Menke"-thus the dialogue would
'commence-"Menl1e are you already
asleep? (Menke would stir in his bed,
evidently desirous of slumber) Menke,
you blockhead. you peasants brain,
you straw-stuffed head. why not Men
del the timber-merchantis daughter?
Why not? (No reply from Menke)
Now tell me why not, you stiff -recked
father. Mendel. as the whole world
knows, is a lamden "a man learned in
the Talmud). who owns a water-mill-
manages two large estates for Count
Metzkewicz, is X-colIector. and has
no sons. (The prfmogeniture law is
still in existence among the Jews in
Russia Mendel is fully 20 years >old,
and how long does a man live? Think
what Shmunke would fall heir to.
Imagine what Hirshle the cobbleT.
BariI the carpenter, Zemach the water
carrier would think of US then-and
who would not? They would simply
hang themselves with Jealousy.
Shmunke would get a seat in the syn
agogue next to the Oren- -Kodesh.
What! ycu are not really snoring? a
plague on you! You may burst on the
spot. And l say Mendefs daughter
and no one else
A few seconds of siIence would en-
sue. Not a sound from the other bed.
Wei. Menke. did you set deaf and
dumb all of. "A sudden?"
~Oh. I told you a hundred times.
Menke would finally answer through
his nose in sleepy tone, that I'd
rather have my son marry rabbfs
daughter than The daughter of a tim
Der merchant What is wealth? As it
stands in the TehiHm (Psalms): For
when he dieth lie shall carry nothing
away: his glory shall not descend after
him" From the clearness of his voice
] Judged that he rose on his elbow, as
he continued suaveiy: Look here:
Torah is the best merchandise. The