Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-02-20
THE
NEW YEAR
GUEST
70. 1894. weatern Newspaper Union)
By FRANK FILSoN

A
n more than three months ear
ller, Isaac Mandelstamm re-
jOiced In keeping festival upon the
New Year of the nation of which he
felt himself to be an integral part 1t
was more than forty years since he
had arrived from Russia and opened
little tallor's shop on the lower East
side. His sons and daughters had
prospered and had moved uptown, hut
old Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, still
lived In the modest tenement In which
their children had been born and had
grown to manhood and womanhood,
Every December 81 there was re-
union like this one. Abraham and his
wife, Yetta, had motored down from
their country home near Yonkers,
with their children, Morris and Frank.
Isldor, part owner Of department
store, had brought his wife and daugh-
ter. Rachel, the school teacher had
brought her fiance, Meyer Seldlltz;
and there were Philip, the rising
young lawyer, and Marcus, the archi-
tect, who had only begun to prosper
after several years Of obscurity. Only
one child was absent-Lawrence the
youngest, and the Benjamin Of his
fathers old age.
No matter what the passing year
had brought forth, each child of the
aged couple made 1t point of honor
to pay respects to his parents by dim
ing with them In the little fiat. Every
body looked forward to this annual
gathering. They were the happlest
people in the world as they took their
places at the table. Isaac, hale oc-
togenarian, sat at the table, wearing
his black skull cap, and began sharp
ening the carving knife. At the foot
his wife sat facing him, her wrlnkled
face smiling, her eyes beaming with
love as she gazed upon her children.
Abraham, the financler, and Isldor, the
merchant, fraternized on equal terms
with Marcus, who was just beginning
to emerge above the horizon Of sue
cess, and Rachel and Philip, who had
rot seen each other for months, were
so preoccupied that Meyer Seldlitz
felt pang Of Jealousy, In spite Of the
fact that they were brother and sis
ter. The turkey was sizzling in Its
rich brown gravy. the potatoes seemed
ready to melt inside their jackets, the
celery was crisp and dainty the
olives cleaned lusclously, and there
was an inviting sparkle Of cut glass
and sllverware.
Tn al
ers his wife held up her hand.
1--WE are thirteen at table," she ex-
claimed.
Each looked at the other. Nobody
believed in the foolish legend Of dis
aster, and yet somehow the discovery
cast gloom over the gathering.
whats the oddsT' asked Abraham.
"Who believes in that, I'd like to
know"
But old Rebekah had been falling,
and to continue with the meal seemed
impossible. If this was to be her last
New Years dinner each would feel
like murderer. Meyer Seidlltz
jumped out Of his chair
'I'll get somebody to make the
fourteenth" he said.
"Whom?" said Rachel.
THE first person | meet" answered
Meyer, and departed amid shouts OF
approval
Old Isaac put down the carvers and
sighed deeply.
81 know what you're thinking Of,
father" said Rachel, pattlng his hand.
Poor Lawrence
IsIdor and Abraham exchanged
glances. Lawrence was the black
sheep Of the family. Success had
never come to him. Time and again
his father or his brothers had made
good defalcations and dishonestles on
his part, until at last Lawrence had
embezzled large sum of money from
a business firm for which he worked
Isldor had got him that position. He
paid cheerfully, but Lawrence had re
ceived six months Imprisonment. He
had written pitiful letters to his par
ents and brothers after his release,
but nobody had trusted him again or
answered him.
(''The boys no good" Isldor declared
emDhatlcally. Hes Just crooked by
nature"
"A bad lot" Abraham sighed.
STILL" said Rachel, "those things
are largely a matter Of temptation. u
had to struggle for nearly ten years
before could even be assured Of my
next months rent coming In. II one
is bad, one is bad. Don't you agree
with me, PhillpT
Philip stirred uneaslly In his chair.
He looked toward his mother. The
smiles had gone from her face and
tears were streaming down her with
cred cheeks.
u wish the boy were here" burst
out old Isaac. HE ought to have one
more chance. He's paid for his folly.
Don't cry, mother. I'm going to find
him and tell him so. | guess we can
do something for him yet"
We'll" said Abraham, reluctantly,
maybe one chance more. But who
would employ him. Who'd give him
chance, with such n character as
he's gOtr
~ will," said Isidor. 'I'll take him
on In my store n he really means to
run straight"
~ knew you would, Isldor," said Ra
chel pattlng her brothers hand.
"Well. didn't quite mean what
sny," admitted Marcus. after all,
he's our brother. md one ought 10