The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-05
YANKELE GETS A VACATION
MT HAS To TALK FOR PAY FOR
MS WEEK OFF.
Bymsn Goodman Listens TO the story
of the Covetous Man Of gssmin. and
whether fiis Sentiments Are Thss nc
Fear or Of Amusement Ne In Impressed.

The onset Of the summer season In Hyman
G~oodman's store was marked by a decided
slaokening in business. 90 much 10 thai
me proprietor had nothing 20 do save to
st out in from and sleep in a chair when the
sun was not shining there and to retire to
the rear OF the store and nap when the
street was no longer in shade. Intervals
between maps were few. and about all the
activity in tho shop was that Of Yankele
Sehleifan, Who after having been act to
dust OF all the goods was now at work
making an inventory. OF what use that
vas the average person could not discover.
for not a week passed hat Hymsn food
man did not have out signs advertising
Inventory sale; enormous reductions in
all goods or some such other legend
done neatly by his chief and only clerk.
The very occasional customer was taken
in hand by Ysnkele and the proprietor
woke up only when he heard the money
sliding into the till. The buzzing Of the
flies about the bald head OF Hyrnan Good
man and the restless movements Of the
unhappy man az he tried to slap them away
we're practically the only sounds in the
store Tor hours at a time.
Yankele. having read and reread the
liddish daily and having walked from the
street door 10 his stool and back again a
dozen times. was doing up the very last Of
me inventory work. He had about every
hing down from one gross of Roman
gold sleeve buttons. IS cents a pair" TO
fine woollen socks, 8 cents a pair" and
vas engaged in counting up the heavy
winter weight underwear hardly salable
Under the conditions. His MIND strayed
from h labor and he sighed with the OPP
p~ressive warmth Of the day and then
~neezed contemplatively as the dust, dis
turbed by the box he had moved. performed
n curve and entered his nostrils
Finally he walked over and tapped the
proprietor on the shoulder. The latter
swoke and asked: what is il. a customerP"
NO. said Ysnkele. Il wanted TO ask you
something"
Il had such a fine dream" said Good
man. Il dreamed that those alpaca coats
we can't get rid Of haS been sold. and tina
Solomon Billig had bought them all for so
per cent. more than they cost me-" Billig
was a hated rival.
That is too bad. y said Yankele. How
ever. SOM day the dream may he realized
What did you want To ask" demanded
Goodman, seeing that Yankele made no
effort to begin.
Business is pretty dull" Yankele said.
and then stopped.
That l know without being walked up
replied Goodman. 1T doesn't take such
smart fellow TO know that. | don't have
10 have the head of Socrates for that. Is
hat all you wanted to tell me?" he de-
manded, growing angry.
NO" Yankele replied. Il WANTED to say
that as business ia pretty dull | would like
to have a little vacation"
Goodman turned quite purple from the
lark red shade that heat always gave him.
He started up from his chair and then sat
hack. gasping. what do you say?" he cried.
Are you m~eshugge? What ma rrishkeit ia
this? A vacation? What do you need a
vacation for? You nave been here only a
month or so and yon right away want a
vacation. Why don't you wait until you
have worked a while?"
Well" said Yankel6. Il did not think
that you would he angry about it. Ii is
written To every man his toll. to every man
his rest As there was very little to do |
thought you wouldn't mind much. How
ever, If il is so. | cannot object" and he
started back to his stool.
There was silence except for the flies
and the slapping noise for an hour or SO.
/ little girl entered. made a limited pur-
chase Of two spools Of thread, one more
than she had come to buy. and went away.
Goodman sat up when the money was
put in the drawer and then went back TO
mapping and shaping. Yankele sighs1
and sneezed. Eventually the proprietor
got up and stretched himself. Then he
walked up to Yankele and asked: -Ha We
YOU that inventory finished"
Yes" said Yankele. ut il all done. IL
on want 10 advertise a sale now you at
least have a real inventory made"
When ! was young" said the pro-
prIetor. the young were taught not TO
be rude. Also. there were no foolish ideas
about vacations in their heads"
When | was young" said Yankele, |
quoting an old saying. the world was
better. IL was better than that when |
vas not born 1t would hurt no one to
have a vacation when there IA nothing
TO do and one had one all the work re-
CURED"
Well" said Goodman. Il have been
thinking il over and | have decided that
perhaps after all you might as we'll take
a vacation. | myself do not have the
hlxury Of a rest. I am working all the
time. But after all it il different with
Young people. They get tired easier than
The old. How long would you WANT"
i was thinking that a week would b.
all right" said Yanke le.
Well. a week is not too much" said
Good man. when you go home tonight
YOU can start in and take a week off"
That is very fine said Ysnkele. and
! thank you very much. 1t is very good
Of you
Nothing. nothing" said Goodman. set
ting back in his chair. with a wave Of the
hand designed equally for Yankele and a
Testlferous fly.
They sat so. until evening came or and
the store was ready TO close. Yankele
liked up things and made ready 10 lock
up the store. Goodman pocketed the slim
days receipts and let Yankele wa liked out.
Then ne locked the store and started TO I
walk away. Il hope you have a pleasant
vacation" he said. waving his hand with
an easy air.
But, Mr., Goodman said Yankele. how
about my money!"
hat money!" asked the proprietor.
MY vacation money, answered Yankele.