The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
HEAD OF HIS FAMILY AT II.
Morris solomon. VINO wants 20 work. but
Must Co TO schoOl.

"
Morris Solomon, VINO wants 70 work. but
Nus ca to school.
After Bar Mitzvor q boy IL no more q
child: he IL a man."
Thus spoke Morris Solomon, 49, years
old, Strengthening himself as he spoke UP
to the last fraction OF his four feet some
inches. Then he lowered himself to the
edge OF a chair and eyed bashfuily the toes
Of the shoes presented to him the other
dayby Magistrate Mayo in the Essex Market
police court.
That wa an eventful day for Morris.
Before entering the court with his mother
and her three younger children he was a
family man, the main support Of h home,
AZ his widowed mother in very broken
English explained tothe Magistrate. After
ward he was a child remanded back to Public
School rs till he was Ia, and incidentally his
mother was wondering how she was going
TO get along without the $3.50 the boy had
brought home regularly every Saturday
night for the last three months. She is
still bordering that question.
Up to the time Of Morris's debut In court
he and the school attendance officer had
not even a bowing acquaintance. Now
they are old enemies.
i think the Judge would have let me 70
back to work, but the attendance officer
said l must go TO school, Morris explained
with a doubtful look at a caller who pene-
trated to the Solomon fat on the top floor
Of a Norfolk street m to see the boy
and who was at first probably mistaken for
an emissary Of the attendance officer.
THE Judge gave us SIS and these shoes,
continued Morris, something Ike a smile
glimmering in his dark eyes, whose usual
expression is pleasant but very grave.
They are a mans eyes looking out of q
child's face.
But think what a lot more you will be
able TO learn this winter at school" the
caller aid cheerfully.
Il know enough now. the boy announced
frmly; 81 would rather work
q want to help mother. She needs the
money"
Perhaps she can manage for a time with
out your money. Isn't there any one else
to help support the family"
At this question Morris, who is not To-
quacious, looked toward his eleven-year-
old sister Fanny entering with a pile Of
school books.
My sister, who ia nearly 10, works by
beads and makes s. a week, : said Fanny.
And the boarder?' suggested the caller
the Court had heard that there war a
boarder.
mo boarder," emphatioaIly said Mrs
Solomon. who is stout. Two Young men
sleep here at night and pay me So a month.
do their washing for that. too"
The caller made a rapid calculation. The
rent of the Solomons' three rooms is ST.
a month. or 50. deducting the So paid by
their dodgers, and 10 pay this aud feed
six ~persOns-there are two small children
besides Fanny, Morris and the eldest girl
there is an income of 50 a week,
Perhaps you a earn a little money
after school and Saturdays, Morris, it was
suggested.
Il must go to the synagogue on Saturday
and twice every other day, too, to pray for
father, who died last April. Yes, for one
year ! must say prayers every morning and
afternoon at the synagogue. After hat |
need say them only once a day.
NO, mother can't do it. Only the man
Of the family must do it. After Bar Mitz-
vor a boy il no more a child; he is a man"
Ten years was my husband sick before
he died, said the widow softly.
But he had a fine funeral, put in Morris,
Consolingly and the caller wondered ii the
boy understood that the United Hebrew
Charities finds in this fact a reason for re-
fusing aid to the family at present; that
not until Mrs. Solomon lays bare the secret
of the six carriages and other features of
the funeral will the society change its atti-
tude. A n funeral, especially if fur
nlShed by a lodge or organization to which
the deceased may have belonged, indicates,
according to the experience of the society
in that part of the city, a subsequent fund
at the disposal Of his family.
when you get out of school what are
you going to work at, Morris2" was asked.
I'm going to be a cutter"
is that a good busness?"
Il think so. / can learn how TO cut in
about three or four months, and then J
hall earn SO or s. a week. In five months
more / shall be IA, and then ] will begin
right away"
D you play baseball?"
The grave eyes lighted up.
On, yes.
Have you a baseball of your owp;~~
NO; | go to a place where they lend
boys n suit and n baseball for one cent,
and 7 play in the lots on Sunday some
times with fellows"
Would you like to have a baseball of
your OWN
I'D like to have everything" in "A curl
ously quiet. repressed tore whirh sug-
gested that the boy meant but what's the
use of w%ishing?"
Shall j send you the ball or give you
the money to buy it?' asked the caller.
whichever you want to do" after some
hesitation and very politely.
mo, you must decide"
A longer pause, during which Morris
looked at his mother, at Fannie, at the
two youngsters on the floor.
q will take the money and give IL TO
mother" he said finally, and the glimmer
died out Of his eyes.