The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

echo again and again the great an
guish of my soul.
At daybreak / took my little bundle
under my arm and left the synagogue.
I had decided to go TO- Vilno. Vino
was the Lithuanian Jerusalem, where
the Jews were already awakening
from their fanatical slumber. There,
perhaps, / might fin6 means to con-
tinue my modern studies" in the gym
nasium. I had no money to hire
coach, so / made up my mind to walk.
The distance was only a hundred
versts, and / could get there on foot
in four days
At the close of the day / arrived at
a small town wholly inha bited by Jews.
As l came into the principal thorough
fare. the beadle. with his head thrown
back and his hands over his ears,
rushed through the streets proclaiming
in stentcrian voice. I'm Shool Herein"
which was the signal for merchants to
close their places of business and go to
the synagogue. ] WAS reminded that IL
was Friday. AS l was hungry and
fatigued from my long trip. decided.
if i could get place to stay, to remain
here over the Sabbath.
went to the synagogue and inquired
for the shammes (sexton). found
him standing on a high chair. with
several assistants around him. lighting
the candles OF the traditional menOrah
(candlestick). He was a dwarfish man
with wet psiis and shiny forehead.
In response to my question as 10
whether he cauid procure me place in
which to stay over the Sabbath, he
shrugged his shoulders and grumbled:
TOO late now-too late" However,
after I had incidentally Informed him
that | came from JavOlin Neshiva
certain Difference came into his manner
and he said: Stay here till after
service.
| was ashamed to beg. but what will
not person do when he is tired and
hungry, without a farthing in his
pocket? After service the dwarfish
shammes invited me to follow him to
the entrance hall. / took my stand
beside him at the door and patiently
waited.
cut Shabbos-Gut shabbos," the
worshipers saluted each other, every
face wearing a look of contentment;
Gut Shabbos." the children greeted
their fathers; Gut Shabbos," the poor
submissively greeted the rich; Gut
Shabbos." the humble beggars greeted
everybody; Gut Shabbos-Gut Shah
bos." kept on buzzlng in the synagogue
as the large crowd passed through the
narrow hallway.
Presently the shammes, who had
been scanning the passers by. stopped
one of the worshipers-a venerable
looking man with a fine, broad, jet
black beard and happy, smiling eyes,
who was followed by two men. one on
.crutches and the other with an empty,
dangling sleeve. Gut Shabbos. Reb
Dovidle-Gut Shabbos," the shammes
greeted him.
Gut Shabbos, Reb Samson" re-
turned Reb Dovidle.
"Reb Dovidle," proceeded the sham
mes respectfully. and scratching the
back of his head, "a-Reb Dovidle-a-
young man-a-a-a student from
Javolin-a-
Indeed! indeed" the good -natured
Reb Dovidle interrupted him. II al
ways like to have mezumen (three men
to the benediction) at my table. Why,
certainly. let him come"
Samson introduced me to Reb Do
vidle. who extended me cordial in
vitation to remain with him over the
Sabbath.
AS Reb Dovidle, his young son, whom
he led by the hand. and ] approached
his house, two little children came
running to meet their father, with joy
Gus shouting: Gut ShaDbos, papa
Gut Shabbos." He bent down. kissed
them, and the children clung 10 the
skirts of his frock coat. Opening the
door, Reb Dovidle greeted in low ca
dence of voice: Gut Shabbos, Gfttele
Gut Shabbos."
His wife Gittele beamed with Joy
and her diamond earrings twinkled as
they bobbed in the light of the candle
on the table. Everybody looked happy
-Sa bbath eve spoke from every face.
Reb Dovidle kissed his dark-haired
daughter, leaned his hands on the lit
tie children's head and murmured a
blessing. Then walking leisurely up
and down the room and clapping his
hands gleefully. he hummed: Who
can find a virtuous woman? For her
price is above rubies. The heart of her
husband doth safely trust in her, so
that he shall have no need of spoil.
She layeth her hands to the spindle.
and her hands hold the distaff. She
stretcheth out her hand to the poor,
yea, she reacheth forth her hand to
the needy" etc.
Thus hummed the happy Reb Do
vidle in Hebrew. and his soft voice
quavered In quaint fluctuations while
he beamed upon his wife and children
like olive plants round about the ta-
ble." Gittele read in low voice:
Peace be to you, angels of service,
angels eternal of the King Of Kings.
the Holy One, blessed be He
During the meal Reb Dovidle asked
me how long l had stayed at Javolin
and where / was going. tc which ! re-
piled with shame do 1 record it) not
the truth, but rather what / thought
best for me. Then he asked me IL I
knew OF a young man who would like
TO teach Hebrew in a ANAL village
about fifteen miles away. Without
waiting for my answer he added.
''The work would not be hard. My
brother-in-law has only little boy OF
about seven and a daughter OF about
seventeen. The instructor would have
10 be with them only a few hours a
day"
/ was silent a moment. IT occurred
to me that here was a good opportun-
ity to make little money to tide me
through my first uncertain weeks in
Vino SO I told him l was willing to
accept a position myself for the sum-
mer.
And early Sunday morning I started
for Dubrovka. armed with a letter Of
intr oduction to Mr.. Nosen Takiff.
CHAPTER Xxx.
BECOME A TEACHER.
/ had no difficulty in finding the