The Denver Jewish news., 1919-07-30

gan to make alterations. ne always
had to be building. II
And i kept on improving it up to,
the very end--until-" Kasriel stop
ped.
"Well?" Benny demanded.
Tell him, Malke--you,' said Kas-
riel.
I'VE had to leave the village,
Benjy," said Make. I'VE had no right
to live there"
NO right to live there? Why not!
Because we were Jews"
"Jimminy." Benny sworc, They
had the nerye?"
AT that time," said Kasriel. they
began with their May Laws and the
Jews had to leave the villages
Il remember it like today SAID
Make. how you came home with the
news, and You We're like crazy man.
You ran about the house, from the
garret to the cellar. to the barn ana
stables, then back to the house. That
day, Benny, l was sure he was out OF
his mind.
Wen sell the house. said 1 to
him. and with Gods help weH build
another one in the town.
Sell the house? Sell the house:
l,e repeated and looked as If he didh |
know what that meant. Then he ps-
came calmer and sat down and seemed
lost in thought. After while he rose
up and went out. All, if l had only
known then what was in his mind
There was no time to lose, Benny
so we began to get ready Mt once.
Have you found customer for the
house? / asked him several days Ia
ter And he answered angrily Leave
that TO me- So 1 said no more about
it. All, if had only Known
1.-THE day came when we had to go.
All that day my eyes were not dry for
Il moment. Wherever l turned and
wherever looked found fresh cause
for tears. And he, Kaisriel. says I"
me: why do you cry, little fool? VIII
it help you any?
"At last all our belongings We're
heaped up on two wagons, the COW
was tied to the back-post of the sec
ond, and, with last look behind we
drove off.
1--WE followed the winding road to
the town, and in about an hour W"
came to the top of hill from which
we could see the village of Pinekn be-
low. 1 looked down and my heart
stopped beating with terror.
Our house and the barn and the
stables were just one mass of smoke
and flames! The air was clear and
crisp and the smoke and flames shot
straight up into the Sky. could even
make out some .iof the village people,
running about But IT was easy to see
'fiidt the house could not be saved.
:. .Kasrielr 1 screamed. Our house
is burning!'
Il looked at him and-God mine
1 forgot even the burning house. He
,yns so changed couldn't recognize
him and he paced up and down like
wild beast in u cage. Then lie TOOK
out a little knife from his pocket and
made n cut in his coat as is done for
the dead. Blessed be the righteous
Judgev he repeated again and again.
Then he sat down on the earth and
buried his head between his knees and
his shoulders heaved up and down as
he sobbed. And as l looked at him.
the truth flashed into my head.
Il came close to him and bent down
and said:
.'Kasriel, why did you 40 1t"
And he answered.:
L couldn't, Make, I couldn't sell
it,
Then he became calm again and
got up and made his vow:
May my right hand wither,' he
said, If Fever build me house again
in the Goluth; but if God grant me
Gays and strength, 1 will yet build
me a house in the Land OF. Israel"
Kasriel's "old one" became silent
and little Benny, moved by muititude
# feeling, remained seated with the
old couple in the silence of the night
for little while longer.
Then he rose up quietly and lett
them to themselves. wrapped In their
bitter-sweet memories and lulled by
their great dream.-The Young Ju-
daean.