The Denver Jewish news., 1919-02-20
The Sacrifice
A TWO PART STORY OF MUSIC
AND Fl1ERNAL LOVE.
By/TZIRIL GORDON

curD; catty-piaylhS DOyS uouglnS
street cars and trucks; girls, hatless
and coatless. skipping the rope, braids
swinging with the motion; mothers
cluttering doOrsteps, babies in arms.
were as true harbingcrs of spring as
the first blue violet. in shady cove.
Windows that were nailed fast dur
ing the winter months We're pried oper.
Shop doors were flung wide, enticing-
ly Small giils ut play before the
large. friendly Settlement House sang
joyous paeans to spring. with the in
Election of voice peculiar to the child
of thd Ghetto, tho the sweet smell of
grass in the springtime was unknown
to them.
On the low doorstep of her fathers
butcher store. little Iscbby Greenberg
crooncd over baby in her arms. her
small body rocking rhythmically. Two
wide-set. brown eyes were emphasized
10y the straight black hair strained
back from the punched face. A washed
out gray sweater buttoned close to her
reached her thin knees.
Thru the fly-spccked store window.
with its symbolic red rooster decOr,,-
tion. bearing beneath. in Hebrew char
acters, the inscription Kosher" Debby
could see her fathers tall. white ap-
rOned figure behind the counter. Phru
the long afternoon. following her dis
missal from school. she had watched
him as he met. with unwcaricd pleas
antries. the loud-vOiccd haggling. the
sharp complaints, the caustic gibes.
of shawled customers who pOked tehta-
tive. disparaging fingers in the poul-
try and the meat.
His long apron was blood-spatter-
cd: straw cuffs reached to his el
bows: dusty derby rested carelessly
on the back Of his head. His long
features were sharply chiscled; the
velvety eyes, under heavily pcnciled
brows. deep set and visionary: the
mouth. beneatl. the black. pointed
isenrd generous and sensitive.
Dcbby's head droopcd wearily. The
chill in the air penetrated her thin
sweater anf she sliivered slightly. a
woman. n parcel clnspcd beneath her
shawl. brushed heavily against her In
stepping out of the store.
A struggling shaft of sunshine CLINT
cd off pile of tinware heapetl on IL
p,ishcart at the curb and rested like
a halo over the child's head. Thru the
open doorway it sifted. and for II fleet
ing second turned the sawdust strewn
over the floor to powdered gold.
Debby proppcd the baby MP on her
shoulder. She entered the store and
edged close to the counter. She peer
ed over the top up at her father who
made hurried entries into long. worn
ledger.
Papa. tonight you'll ask her-yes?
TOnight?'
She spoke with quick eagerncss, her
eyes round and ardent.
Morris Greenberg. straight. smooth
brows united. glanced at her hastily.
He pulled his derby low down over
his forehead. His eyes fell to the
ledger.
Papa is b,isy."
There was no irritation. only fin
ality. in the tones of his deep. vibrant
voice.
Quick tears sprang to the little girls
eyes.
Papa" she Quavered 'hokingly.
you said you'd ask ner. Yesterday
yOu said it,"
She caught her Iuivcri~ lower lip
between tiny sharp teeth.
Her fatlier shot n swift glance nj
her. His lips parted in reassurina
smile. revealing strong. < canning teeth.
extraordinarily bright by contrast
with his black beard. Ii" closed his
ledger and scoopcd togethc- the lit
tering meat scraps on the ."lnter.
Sure. Sure. Papa will a.I her"
He nodded in quick indulgence
..Tonight?" Her eyes flew up nj
him in eager besceching.
Tonight"
Debby's tcarstuddcd eyes 'rkled
in feverish excitement her thii arms
frightened about the baby.
Tonight. :. Tonight-youll 'sk
-her?"
Her voice throbbed in ecstatic cres-
cendo. as If she could rarely conn ''e-
hend the true significance of ne
words.s A laugh that was almost |
sob gurgled in her throat. She nodde'
delightedly. her small glowing ia,
reflecting the sudden radiance tha'
flooded her soul.
Morris Greenherg laughed loud 'a'
her rapture. He sharpened long
keen blade on . rounded steel mag