PAGE EIGHT

TIEDLTROliffM5fleIRONICIE

Passover In a Village

ens that it was time to go home. Fei-
tel had forgotten that it was the Pass-
over eve. Ile remembered then that
is
his mother had to wash him and dress
him in his new trousers. He jumped
up and flew home Fedoka after him.
They both flew home, gladly and joy-
By SHALOM ALEICHEM.
fully. And in order that one should
not be home before the other, they
Let winds blow. Let storms rage. The black earth throws off her cold
held hands, flying like arrows from
Let the world turn upside down. The
•inter mantle. The sun shines and bows. When they got to the village,
old oak, which has been standing since the wind blows. A little blade of
this was the scene which confronted
the creation of the world, and whose grass peeps out. At the foot of the
them:
roots reach to God-knows i where—what hill the little river murmurs. The calf
Nachman Veribivker's house was
does he care for winds? W hat are inhales the soft air through distended
surrounded by peasants, men and
storms to him?
nostrils. The cock closes one eye and women, boys and girls. The clerk,
Everything Kuratchka, and Opanas, the village
The old tree is not a symbol—it is is lost in meditation.
a living being, a man whose name is around and about has come to life elder, and his wife and the magistrate
Nachman Veribivker of Veribivka. again. Everything rejoices. It is the and the policeman—all were there,
Ile is it tall Jew, broad-shouldered, a Passover eve. Neither Feitel nor Fe- talking and shouting together. Nach-
giant. The townspeople are envious doka can he kept indoors. They rush man and his wife were in the middle
of his strength, and make fun of him, out into God's world which has opened of the crowd, arguing and waving
"Peace be unto you. How is a Jew in up for them both. They take each their hands. Nachman was bent low
health?" Nachman knows he is he- 1 other's hands and fly down the hill and was wiping the perspiration from
ing made fun of.
II, bends his' that smiles at them—"Come here, chil- his face with both hands. By his side
shoulders so as to look more Jewish.; dren." They leap towards the Sall stood his elder children, gloomy and
that greets them and calls them: downcast. Suddenly the whole pic-
[ But, it is useless. Ile is too big.
Nachman has lived in the village a "Conic, children!" When they are ture changed. Sonic one pointed to
long time. "Our 'Lachman'," the tired of running, they sit down on the two children. The whole crowd,
' peasants call him. They look upon God's earth that knows no Jew and including the village elder and the
him as a good man, with brains. They no Gentile, but whispers invitingly: magistrate, the policeman and thy
like to have a chat with him. They' "Children, come to me, to me."
clerk, stood still, like petrified. Only
They had much to tell each other, Nachman looked at the people, and
follow his advice. "What are we to
not
having
met
throughout
the
whole
do about bread?" "Lachman" has an
straightened out his back and
COMPLETE TIRE AND GARAGE SERVICE
almanack, and he knows whether winter. Feitel boasts that he knows laughed. His wife threw out her
bread will be cheap or dear this year.' the whole Hebrew alphabet. Fedoka hands and began tie weep.
He goes to the town, and no knows boasts that he has a whip. Feitel
The village elder and the clerk and
boasts that it is the eve of Passover. the magistrate and their
what is doing in the world.
wives
Gasoline, Oils, Accessories — Radio.
They
have
"matzos"
fur
the
whole
fes-
pounced
on the children.
It would be hard to imagine Veri-
"Where were you, you so-and-so?"
bivka without Nachman. Not only tival and wine. "Do you remember,
"Where were we? We were down
was his father, Feitel, horn in Veri- Fedoka, I gave you a 'matzo' last
bivka, but his grandfather, Arya. He year?" " 'Matzo,'" repeats Fedoka. by the mill."
The two friends, Feitel as well as
was a clever Jew, and a wit. Ile used A smile overspreads his pleasant face.
to say that the village was called Veri- It seems he remembers the taste of Fedoka, gut punished without know-
bivka because Arya Veribivker lived the "matzo." "Would you like to have ing why.
F'eitel's father flogged him with his
in it, because, before Veribivka was some 'matzo' now, fresh 'matzo'?" 1$
Veribivka, he, Arya Veribivker, was it necessary to ask such a question? cap. "A boy should know." What
[
"Then
come
with
ale,"
says
Feitel,
should
a boy know? Out of pity his
already Arya Veribivker. That's what
his grandfather used to say. The pointing up the hill which smiled to mother took him from his father's
them
invitingly.
They
climbed
the
hands.
She gave him a few smacks
Jews of those times!
, hill. They gazed at the warm sun
And do you think Arya Veribivker through their fingers. They threw on her own account, and at once
aummotalitomenonmiminimmitommitionniniutionsioxiiiimirdirommuminuminvoitm
washed him and dressed him in his
said this for no reason? Arya was not [themselves on the d
amp earth which new trousers—the only new garment
an ordinary man who made jokes with-
smelled no fresh. Feitel drew out he had for the Passover. She sighed.
out reason. Ile meant that the catas-
1
1M\N
a
‘101.1
31
.11
\WO
6'
%%I
1.
: front under his blouse a whole fresh, Why? Afterwards he heard his fa-
1111.W•
trophes of his day were Jewish trage-
white "matzo" covered with holes on ther say to his mother: "May the
dies. At that time they already
both sides. Fedoka, licked his fingers Lord help us to get over this festival
talked of driving the Jews out of the
in advance. Feitel broke the "matzo" in peace. The Passover ought to
villages. And not only talked but
'in halves, and gave one half to his have gone before it came." Feitel
drove them out. All the Jews were
friend. "What do you say to the could not understand why the Pass-
driven out excepting Arya Veribivker.
'matzo,' Fedoka?" What could Fe-
It may be that even the governor of , doka say when his mouth was stuffed over should have gone before it came.
He worried himself about this. He
the district could do nothing, because
with "matzo" that crackled between did not understand why his father
Arya Veribivker proved that, accord-
his teeth and miter under his tongue had flogged him and his mother
ing to the law, he could not be driven
[ like snow? One minute and there smacked him. Ile did not understand
out. The Jews of those times!
was no more "matzo." "All gone?" what sort of a Passover eve it was
Certainly, if one has inherited such Fedoka threw his grey eyes at Feitel's
0 Correctly selected LAND CON-
this day in the world.
a privilege, and is independent one can blouse as a cat looks at butter. "Want
0 TRACTS are unequalled as in-
If F'eitel's Jewish brains could not
laugh at the whole world. What did more?" asked Feitel, looking at Fe-
solve the problems, certainly Fedo-
vestments for estates, private
our Nachman Veribivker care about doka through his sharp, black eyes.
ka's peasant brains could not. First
uprisings, the limitations of the Pale, What a question! "Then wait a
parties and institutions with
of all his mother took hold of him
Vs hat did Nachman
of ( m olars?
said Feitel.
Next year by the flaxen hair and pulled it. Then
surplus funds not required in
care about the wicked Gentile Ku-, you'll get more." They both laughed she gave him a few good smacks in
ratchka and the papers that he at the joke. And without a word, as the face. These he accepted like a
11 1 commercial and other business
brought from the court? Kuratchka . if they had already arranged it, they philosopher. He was used to then,.
0 undertakings. They yield a
was a short peasant with short fingers. threw themselves on the ground and
And he heard his mother talking with
Ile wore a smock and high hoots, and rolled down the hill like balls, quick- the peasants. They told curious tales
larger return on the average in-
a silver chain and a watch like a gen- ly, quickly downwards.
of a child that the Jews of the town
vestment than any other class
tleman. Ile was a clerk of the court.
At the bottom of the hill they stood had enticed on the Passover eve, hid-
And he read all the papers which
of investment not requiring em-
[
and looked at the murmuring den in a cellar a day and a night and
• abused and vilified the Jew.
were about to make away with hini
ployment of personal effort and
Personally, Kuratchka was not a river that ran away to the left. They
turned to the right, going further and when his cries were heard by passers-
• bad sort. Ile was a neighbor of Nach-
0 supervision. Yield on this class
1, 1
f
further over the broad fields that by. They rescued! him. Ile had
1
man
not yet green in all places, but marks on his body—four marks,
of investment ranges from a
When Kuratchka's wife was brought [ were not
to the bed of a child, Nachman's wife that did not yet smell of grass, but placed like a cross.
minimum of 15 per cent to a
A cunning peasant woman with a
• They
nursed her. But for some time, the
maximum of much better than
devil knows why, Kuratchka had been walked and walked in silence, be- red face told this tale. And the other
women
shook their shawl-covered
witched
by
the
loveliness
of
the
earth
reading the anti-Semitic papers, and ;
$ 20 per cent on the average in-
he was an altered man. "Esau began under the bright, smiling sun. They heads and crossed themselves. Fe-
doka
could
not understand why the
• to speak in him." He was always [ did not walk, but swam. They did
vestment.
C. S. SCOVILLE
women looked at him when they were
but flew.
y
1 make collections on contracts sold by my office, free of charge, A bringing home news of new governors,
talking.
And
what had the tale to
birds that sweep in the soft air of
rendering monthly statements with remittance for all collections PA' new circulars from the minister anti the lovely world that the Lord has do with him and Feitel? Why had
made the previous month. Correspondence is solicited. Bank and / new edicts against the Jews. Each
•
time, Nachman's heart was torn. But , created for all living beings. Hush! his mother puleld his flaxen hair and
wess tt mferon m
t,. parties interested in high
clientele references given ildanssrei r
he did not let the Gentile know of it. They are at the windmill which be- boxed his ears? He did not care
He listened to him with a smile, and , longs to the village elder whose name about these. Ile was used to them.
field out the palm of his hand, as if is Opanas—a cunning Gentile with Ile only wanted to know why he had
[ one ear-ring, who owns a "samover." had such a good share that day.
o say, When hair grows here."
"Well?" Feitel heard his father re-
Let governors change. Let minis- Opanas is a rich Epicurean. Along
ers write circulars. What concern is with the mill he has a store—the mark to his mother immediately after
the
festival. His face was shining as
same
store
which
once
belonged
to
t of Nachman Veribivker of Veri-
[ Nachman Veribivker. Ile took both if the greatest good fortune had be-
ivka.
the
mill
and
the
store
from
the
Jew
fallen
him. "Well? N'ou fretted your-
Nachman lived comfortably. That
self to death. You were afraid. A
a, not as comfortably as his grand- by cunning.
woman remains a woman. Our Pass-
Efferent times. One might almost but this day it was still. There was over and their Easter have gone, and
ay that the whole Veribivka belonged no wind. A curious Passover eve nothing."
"Thank God," replied his mother.
without winds. That the mill was not
o
e money I working was so much the better for And Feitel could nut understand what
milsl• a granar y. Ile madthe
say
.
his
mother had feared. And why
Feitel
and
Fedoka.
They
could
see
y
w ith p oons and p la tes, as
But, that was long ago. Today, all the mill itself. And there was much they were glad that the Passover was
hese
things
are
gone.
No
more
inn;
to
see
in
the
mill.
But
to
them
the
t
(Continued on Page 11.)
n o more store; no more granary. The mill was not so interesting as the
q uestion is why, in that ease, does sails, and the wheel which turns them
Nachman live in the village? Where which ever way the wind blow's.
t hen should he live? In the earth? They at down near the mill and
J ust let him sell his house, and he will talked. It was one of those converse-
be Nachman Veribivker no more. He tions which have no beginning and
will be a dependent, a stranger. As no evil. Feitel told stories of the
it is, he has at least a corner of his town to which his father had once
own, a house to live in, and a garden. taken him. He was at the fair. Ile
His wife and daughters cultivate the saw shops. Not a single shop as in
garden. And if the Lord helps them,. Veribivka, but a lot of shops. And
they have greens for the summer, and in the evening his father took him to
potatoes fur the whole winter, until the synagogue. His father had "Yahr-
long after the Passover. But, one zeit" after his father. "That means
cannot live on potatoes alone. It is after my grandfather," explained
said that one wants bread with lista- Feitel. "Do you understand, or do
toes. And when there's no bread, a you not?"
Fedoka might have understood, but
Jew takes his stick and goes through
the village in search of business. He he was not listening. Ile interrupted
never comes home empty-handed. with a story that had nothing to do
What the Lord destines, he buys— with what Feitel was talking about.
some old iron, a bundle of rags, an old He told Feitel that last year he saw
sack, or else a hide. The hide is a bird's nest in a high tree. He tried
stretched and dried, and is taken to to reach it but could not. He tried
the town, to Abraham-Elijah, the tan- to knock it down with a stick but
tier. And on all these one either earns could not. Ile threw stones at the
or loses money. nest until he brought down two tiny,
Abraham-Elijah, the tanner, a man bleeding fledglings.
"You killed them?" asked Feitel,
with a bluish nose and fingers as black
as ink, laughs at Nachman, because fearfully, and made a wry face.
"Little ones," replied Fedoka.
he is so coarsened through living with
"But, they were dead?"
Gentiles that he even speaks like them.
"Without feathers, yellow beaks,
Yes, coarsened. Nachman feels it
himself. He grows coarser each year. little fat bellies."
"But killed, but killed."
Oh, if his grandfather, Reh Arya—
It was rather late when Feitel and
peace to' unto him!—could see his
grandson. He had been a practical Fedoka saw by the sun in the hear-
man, but also had been a scholar. Ile
knew whole passages of the l'salms
and the prayers off by heart. The
Jews of those times! And what does
he, Nachman, know? He can only
just say his prayers. It's we'll he
knows that much. His children will
know even less. When he looks at his
children, how they grow to the ceil-
ing, broad and tall like himself, and
can neither read nor write, his heart
grows heavy. More than all, his heart
aches for his youngest child, who is
called Feitel, after his father. lie
was a clever child, this Feitel. He
was smaller in build; more refined,
more Jewish than the others. And he
had brains. Ile was shown the He-
brew alphabet once, in a prayer-book,
and he never again confused one let-
ter with the other. Such a fine child
to grow up in a village amongst calves
JACK ROSENBERG, Mgr.
and pip! He plays with Kuratchka's
Garfield 2121.
Wyoming Yard.
son, Fedoka. Ile rides on the one
stick with him. They both chase the
one cat. They both dig the same hole.
They do together everything children
do. Nachman is sorry to see his child
playing with the Gentile child. It
withers him, as if he were a tree that
had been stricken by lightning.
Fedoka is ■ smart little boy. He
has a pleasant face and a dimpled
chin, and flaxen hair. He loves Feitel
1000 WEST GRAND BLVD.
and Feitel does not dialike him. All
the winter each child slept on his fa-
ther's stove. They seldom met. But
now the long angry winter is over.

1111111111Idil i1111 II lahr[111111' 111151 otria[rristifirsills[111111ilaialsiaiswilfiffill1111SiodinrarmosiNISSOMISSIN11•111111 ■ 1101N11111"

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6......■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■• s , Arya. Ile had the inn, the store,

Elmer H. Christe. President
W. T. Greenwood, Secretary

We Extend Heartiest Passover
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MOUNT CLEMENS, MICH.

The mill went round in its season,

SAM COHEN, Proprietor

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A. R. Campbell, Vice-President
David Oppenheim, Treasurer

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Passover Greetings

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