Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19


they want because of the love that Jewish children bear
their parents. The only condition they make is that
when you surrender her and accept the five thousand
dollars she pass out of your life forever. You
not even to know the identity of her foster parents
Aaron turned from the superintendent with shudder
of aversion. Se my child-never' he repudiated the
offer.
dts not if you selling her" the official expos
tulated. you're simply giving her the best oppor
tunity she'll have in life What have you to otter
herr Poverty-unending poverty A JOB in the sweat
shop! Why, what have you accomplished in the last two
years? You're three weeks in arrears to this lnsttu
tion and you don't know when you'll be able to renew
payments. Do you want her to suffer with you, to
slave away her life to live always the edge OF starva
ton? And all because you selfish to surrender her
Aarons eyes shot silent appeal for mercy; but the
superintendent genuinely convinced that he was serV-
ing the best interests of the girl was merc1less.
"You her father, and eventually she must be sur
rendered to YOU he said "Very well! Wen keep her
here. But think, his voice grew suddenly low and
solemn, think of the uncertainties of hte You may
be called away suddenly, as was your WIFE God for
bid! But if it should be ordained that your child IS to
be left atherless then what would become OF herr 1t
is very hard in this world for friendless orphan"
He had thrown the turning weight into the scale of
argument Aaron was torn by a chaos of emotion; but
in the midst of the inward tuu he felt his mind sett
ling toward the surrender of the child.
aLet me consult with the Rabbi he pleaded, in last
effort to delay the moment OF his remuneration Il need
his advice"
"No mol" the superintendent quickly objected, fore
seeing the inevitable outcome of the consultation you
must decide The people must have an immediate
answer. Come what do you say?"
For five minutes Aaron paced the room IN agitation,
beset by hundred contending sensations Finally he
paused before the superintendent desk one hand over
his heart as if to moderate its pusations.
Gil do it,! he whispered hoarsey, then sank weakly
into chair.
The superintendent produced a legal document,
which evidently had been prepared in confident antic
patton of the fathers decision. Aaron slowly dragged
a pen across the line indicated by the official
"Your Ruth's future is now secure-that ought to
make you happy" said the official, delivering to the
father check for five thousand dollars
"May See her nowfor the last timer" Aaron asked
mournfully.
"You may"
In few minutes the girl was brought into the recep
ton room-a timd, dark haired, dark eyed, healthy
youngster with that singular constrant OF manner de-
rived from the automatic upbringng OF the institution
For half an hour Aaron held her his knee, while
the silence of the remained unbroken save by the
low half suppressed lamentations OF the father and the
responsive sobbing of the daughter Presently nurse
summoned the girl, and the father tore himself away
to proceed his home like man under the influence
of torpifyng drug.
In conformity with the articles of adoption Ruth
delivered that day her foster parents thereby
passing of her fathers life And Aaron might never
have behed her again but for an odd combination OF
circumstances that brought her one day unW1tt1ngly
into his presence That however was twenty years
later-twenty years which Ruth had time to develop
into beautiful WomanhoOd.
BEFORE that fateful meeting occurred, Aaron had
likewise undergone slow process OF transformation
With the five thousand dollars paid by the supern-
tendent, he went into business on his own account A
new loneliness had him, and to relieve it he
applied himself unsparingy to building up the new
terprise He worked without hope, without INSPIRATION
but with seadastness that could not help but produce
results. He prospered nightly. At the end of twenty
years of unrettng toll he found himself occupying
topmos position in the shrtwaist industry His estab
Gshment consisted of five huge lofts, wherein twelve
hundred girls employed. And he had attained the
distinction of being chosen president of the Employers
Association.
In outward personal appearance Aaron reflected the
prosperity that had crowned his work. His face, COW
cred by closely cropped black beard in which silver
threads mingled, radiated bushes acunen. He wore
linen snotleSs his tie alyua,zs