Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-22

they were poor shey we're at the same
time skilled workmen, and, therefore, use
ful to the factories To each of these he
went in turn and begged them to each take care
OF one of us children In the end he got eight OF
them To consent to do so, although God only
knows that most of them were poor enough
themselves
Having placed children. my parents de
clded TO take the risk OF remaining In kiew.
They knew they We're liable 10 arrest ON sight
out at the same time only they would suffer.
BeSideS. my father had great hopes of obtaining
employment that would enable him to bribe the
police sufficiently 70 allow him to remain safely.
as Jews are permitted by the police to live In
Kiev II they pay well for the privilege
But he little knew what before him.
Every one was afraid to give him work, know
ing him to be n jew and liable to instant arrest
IL they did offer him employment 1t was for
such wages as would scarcely have kept my
mother and father alive let alone us children
They must have gone through terrible time,
for know what suffering is; nearly all my life
! have known little else. But they had been
used TO moderate comfort and the blow must
have fallen much harder upon them. \
IL WAS only their great love for their chtdreD
that could have kept them In Kiev. | remem-
Der now how at night with their faces hidden
In cloaks for fear OF being arrested they used
TO creep like thieves to the house In which
lived taking big risks lust for the sake OF
glimpse of one of their children. And | re-
member how, after they had gone, cried my
self to sleep ut the thought Of their having to
leave the warm fire and so out into the cold
snow. with the ehanee>that at any moment the
police might take them to one Of the terrible
Russian prisons.
kindly took care OF me- trying, as grew older,
TO mako myself little useful to them had
forgotten almost all the little that | had been
Taught and there was no chance for me to learn
more This state Of affairs went on for some
time. until at last in despair my parents felt
that the only thing for them was to return to
Nescherow and take us with them.
our journey back 10 NeScherow was just like
our trip to Kiev. We travelled on foot, mostly
by night. and We nearly starved the way.
by this time, however. we were more used to
being without food. and, consequently, l do not
think We suffered as much as before.
At Nescherow ON our return We met with
Kindness My fathers late partner, Mr.. Zaitseff,
had prospered IN the years we had been away,
and he gladly found some work for my futher
to do II did not bring in much money, but it
kept as from want
He Works, Hidden in Kiev.
| was now growing quite big lad and
thought would also try and earn n little money
TO help my parents, II was not possible for me
10 attend a school IN Nescherow. and so | looked
for some work. found occasional employment
where ! earned a rouhle or two a month and
some food, but nothing seemed 10 lead to any
thing permanent.is So | thought would make nv
own way back TO Kiev and see il | could do
better there, was really too Young to realize
the obstacles that was up against in attempt
ing this
| set out for Kiev without kopeck and
managed somehow to reach the city, ana at
once commenced my search for work. After
much trouble | found at last job in a shop
where made myself generally useful and was
given the sum of three roubes month Some
of this | gave to the family who had locked AZ
ter me when was In Kiev before. and kept
Just enough 10 buy some food in addition to that
supplied me by my employer.
This state of affairs went for some time
during which my life was one long hardship
phe proprietor OF the Shop knew that | was at
his mercy: he knew that one word TO the police
and should 5e arrested there and then as
had no right 10 live IN Kiev. He took every
advantAgt. he conid Of this keeping me- iu 4
constant state of terror and treating me bru-
tally The food he gave me was OF the worst.