The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-02-24

piled sharply:
81 don't know. Don't talk to me
now, please, I'm busy"
But Vasili, contrary to his custom,
when he was coolly received, per-
sisted:
"The Jews are very numerous in
Russia. They are much hated by the
Christians. They crucified our
Saviour and they sacrifice young chill
dren to their heathen rites"
This was rather an extended effort
for Vasili, and, though it had a de-
cided Ollendorfian ring, there was
something in his manner that indi-
Gated a deeper purpose than the mere
desire to profit by his superior's Eng
lish.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Hardy with
irritation. II have no patience with
any such folly. That is all an idle
superstition unworthy to be enter
tanned by a man of your intelli-
gence."
Nonsense, is it% sneered Vasili.
"My father hates the Jews, and my
uncle hates them worse than my IA
ther. Do the Americans love the
Jews?"
mo, they do not love them, neither
do they hate them. Some of our best
citizens are Jews. There is no such
thing as religious persecution in
America. Any man is respected in
that country who earns his living hon
eStly."
Vasili went about his work, but re-
turned later with the remark:
THE people of this town want the
Jews to go. They do not understand
why you are seen so much with the
Jew, Mordecai. 1t might be dangerous
for you, if there should be trouble.
Some say that you are an American
Jew"
Hardy dropped his pen and looked
up with interest. A slight flush, a red
spot, crept into his cheek
"You may tell my esteemed and
somewhat meddlesome neighbors, for
me-" he drawled, that I am neither a
Jew nor a Choctaw Indian, and that
when | need their advice in my priv
ate affairs, shall call them in."
Il am Russian" persisted Vasili;
"do you love Jews better than Rus
| sians?"
MY dear Vasili, when you persist
in making a nuisance of yourself, as
at present, am quite sure that like
the Jews better than the Russians, or,
at least, than some Russians. If you
have anything to do, will you kindly
go about it? never felt better able
to endure your absence than at this
very instant"
Vasili moved away, smiling, but II
was an evil smile.
Hardy returned to his accounts and
tried to dismiss his clerks remarks
from his mind. He succeeded for the
time being, as the work before him
was engrossing, but later in the day
the Russians observations persistent
| ly recurred to him, and caused him
considerable annoyance. He fancied
that the retail trade had been falling
off somewhat, and wondered If this
were a result of the Russian lessons
with the Jew. The next morning he
took a long walk with Mordecai, cross
ing the ferry that is ingeniously run
by the force of the rivers current,
and struck out into the hills. Hitherto
he had been deeply absorbed in the
Russian lessons, and ever there had
been constantly in his mind the
thought that this was her language,
and that, if he should ever meet her
again, he would be able to talk with
her in her own tongue.
Now, however, he was distracted by
the scowling faces of the early vii
layers whom he met on the streets.
The raft-like ferry was crowded, and
he noticed that the passengers drew
away from himself and Mordecai as
though fearing some Contagion. These
people muttered, repeating the words,
The Jew! The Jew" with loathing
and fear such as Hardy had never
heard put into human speech before
AS uttered by them the word itself
|
stitious horror the most opprobrious
insult that could be hurled at fellow
creature.
Hardy glanced at Mordecai. His
companion stood silent, looking down
nervously clasping one hand in the
other, the collar of his long cloak
turned up about his ears. Once he
looked up, a feeting glance, and there
was a baleful light, half hate, half fear
in his reddish-brown eyes.
On the country road which they
took after leaving the ferry, the!
passed several telegas, or lont
wagons, coming into town, and Hard!
observed that the drivers Of thes'
also eyed him and his companion
with looks of loathing, and again n
heard, above the rattle of the wheels
that ancient cry of hate, "The Jew
The Jew!"
They sat down beneath tree Of
the side of a hill commanding vieV
r of the town and the winding Shilka
! up whose rapid current steamer wa
now shouldering its way, leaving be
/ hind a trailing plume of black smok
: of incredible size. They conversed Il
Russian for awhile, Mordecai skill
fully leading the dialogue, without an
reference to the unpleasant incident
of the morning. When, however
Hardy arose at last to return to tn
y shore, the Jew said:
y You have made great progress, m
r dear pupil. You will now be able
Q get along by yourself, or by the hel
of Russian teacher, who does nc
know any English"
Il do not desire to make change
replied Hardy; 81 am more than sa
isfied with my present teacher"
v Nevertheless" insisted BarucI