The Denver Jewish news., 1920-02-11
The Americanization of
Becky Brodsky
fContinuation)

IiI.lneQl--tC tPrrl'uTy SUI 'cuh'ihS Nv
Brodsky flat became almost like AN
isolated island, wherein was spoken,
English nothing but People in geh-
cral were Interested in the class but
the women in particular were more
interested in the effect this new ven
ture was going to have on the prog
ross of the love affair between Becky
Brodsly and Nathan Levy, the corner
butcher. For six months lie had been
teaching nine-year-old Sarah BrodskS
the mysteries of the violin, this ser'-
ice being given in exchange for the
pleasure of eating Friday evening sup
Der with the Brodsky family, Becky
in particular. 1t had been taken Tor
granted that after n few months ol
concentrated courting. he would move
his trunk over to the Brodsky flat ana
the future of Becky and her brood
of three children would be settled. 1t
was supposed to be very satisfactory
match for the young widow, VINO, out
side of the potential earnings of her
oldest boy. Abe. possessed little of TINS
worlds goods. Everybody but Becky
Brodsky knew that everything was
settled.
But the past six weeks had seen n
change in the development of the
BrOdsky-Levy affair. True, Nathan
still came for supper Friday evening
still patiently listened TO the shriil
notes of Sarah's "iolin and sill en-
loved the generous meal, cooked rs
only Becky knew how, but Becky was
always deeply engrossed in copying
from gray paper-back book, invari
ably propped up by the bottle of cat
sup. This had been her performance
now for six successive weeks. imnedi-
ntely after tile supper dishes wclc us
posed of. And every week saw Becky
more interested in the book THAR Ill
Nathan Levy.
..Ain't it wonderful the English IAN
guagc." timidly suggested Nathan eye
ing with admiration the page upon
which Becky was working. l'eckys
only answer was Il nOdding OF her
lead as she bent nearer the paper.
you're quick learner, / can tell.
further commented the visitor. "Aint
many widows wild three children sot
ambition enough to start something
like this.'' Becky raised n question
ing pair of eyes towards her guest. l.c
repeated the compliment in iiddish
and was rewarded by the faintcst OF
~s1niIes. A long silence followed out
side an occasional street car bell
changed and once i'll n great while
the quick footsteps of some late home
conner echoed in the quieo courtyard
lelow. But Becky was in tile grip OF
acquiring knowledge ana made ALSO
Iutely no further effort to entertain
the butcler-musician Finally Nathan
took courage. got up, sighed. hcsitated,
yuwned. and removed his hat from tie
top of the sideboard.
...Ain't you never going to do moth
ing but study" he asked. trying hard
not to resort to the more facilc iid-
dish. Becky stopped long enough to
nod vigorously. "Well, 1 guess l bet
ter be going. It's fine you learn so
quick But" here Nathan shrugged
his shoulders involuntarily. there's
lets of other things in this world. When
Il fellow comes but once Il week. it
looks like if you could quit scratchin'
and be sociable. Maybe you don't like
u L., "a
mistake of mixing business and pleas
urc. Becky. without lifting her eyes
from the book, lent an unfavorably
disposed ear to his love making.
ITS Il good business, but I never
say 1 like it better than nothing else
she venturcd.
Nathan strokcd his chin for mo
ment. THAT so. Veil, | make II fine
ing to be what l amt" Becky di-
vined that Nathan was net altogether
in complete sympathy With her pur-
suit of the difficult English. we'll.
I no want to speak Yiddish all day
long. 1 come to America to be Amer
lean and I only speak English re-
turned Becky, quoting Mrs. Roscn. al
most exactly
"vell. speaking Yiddisl all day long
lin't the worst thing on earth" de-
tended Nathan stoutly II know
vorser crimes. | amt SO swell like
you. l know English exactly 50 good
Is Won" He rpuliZpI tho moment ii |
VAS out of his mouth that he had made
1 false move. perhaps even Il fatal one,
for Becky Brodsky had fallen in love,
not with IL flesh and blood suitOr. but
with English, just plain English.
When Peggy Roseii. at the end of the