New-York tribune., 1909-10-24


one had eaten any breakfast.
"Now that the doll has been destroyed
She asked where are you gong 10 get money
for the rolls' And we need coffee, TOO
There isn't a spoonful of sugar in the house
and we owe the grocer nearly ten dollars. lie
won't trust us for another penny.
The talk of food reminded the weeping
Rachel of her hunger, and she switched her
wall for the broken doll to the cry tor coffee ana
rolls. I'm hungry she shouted want
to eatl"
Simon took advantage of the distresstul
situation to sift the Jewels through his fingers
letting them fall on the tissue paper like strings
of iridescent sparks.
A ARONSON looked about helplessly. He
~ thought he had intrenched himself in the
inherent honesty of his nature; but the suffer-
ing of those who were near and dear to nm
diSarmed him. Perhaps he felt measure OF
self contempt for the weakness that was pulilng
at the roots of the rugged determination he hdd
made not to profit by the ge chance that
put the gems into his posS but ne MAGE
no effort to Justify himsel his mind. lie
turned to Simon, and with despalrlng shrug
of the shoulders, said:
Take one, only one, and bring back the
money!
From that day Aaronson's home took on
fresh bloom. Additions were made to the
furnishings until the apartments assumed an
appearance of luxury; and on Rosh ha-Shanah
worked as a servant sat in the synagogue,
resplendent in their new holiday clothes. But
all the fervencv that he put into his prayers
did not dispel the narrowing fear that grlppedi
Aaronson's heart, nor calm the raging turmoil
of his mind.
A ARONSON sat at the head of the table,
facing Simon at the other end, during the
meal. 1t was after the second day services OF
the most solemn Jewish holy day, with the
of ha Of AtoneT1Pnt
the food was eaten and the dishes cleared from
the table Aaronson rose slowly and deliberately.
His ewes swept the circle of faces around him;
there was something in his appearance that
compelled attention. The lines OF his face
had grown resolute, his brow was contracted IN
deep thought. For moment he stood there,
rigidlv placid but possessed of new strength.
Listen carefully" he began, especially
YOU Simon. On this day all the inhabitants OF
the earth pass in review in the heavenly court
before the Almighty, as sheep pass for exami-
nation before the shepherd. The three Judg-
ment Books have been opened; our tates are
being inscribed therein. To the righteous VIII
be given life and happiness; to the wicked Will
be apportioned misery and death. Those
whose sins are offset in equal measure by their
good deeds have nine days left before Yom
Kippur in which to purge themselves OF their
evil acts. On Yom Kippur the books Will be
closed and our fates sealed.
"How can dip the bread into the honey and
say, May it please the Lord our God, and
God of our fathers, to renew for good and
sweet yearl' with the knowledge of a black
crime on my hearth VIII the Lord listen to
my prayer for forgiveness, when my pockets are
stuffed with things l have stolen2 Mo- 1t
will be mockery for me to appeal on Yom
Kippur for favorable judgment, with the
profits of my sin in my possession. want to
live; | want God to grant long life TO my
family And, unless my atonement IS real, the
wrath of the Almighty will be visited on me
and mine For my wifes sake for my child
ren's sake for my own salvation, | will take
the jewels to the police and ask them to find
the owner!"
"Aaronson, what has happened to you?"
demanded Simon. What wrong have you
| committed? l tell you the stones were sent
to you by Providence. Will you cast off the
gift that was given to you? They have brought
YOU food and shelter and comfort; they have
made your New Year one of plenty. Are you
responsible to God for the act of another, a
stranger? BY disposing of the gems judiciously,
all of us can live in luxury for the rest of our
lives Will you deliberately plunge into the
blaci, pool of poverty from which the diamonds
rescued YOU only month ago? You have no
proof that the man stole them. You don't
know his motive in giving the doll to Sarah.
Perhaps it was an honest one How do you
/ know it wasn't"