"Well, his daughter is a beautiful
woman and well favored." The implication was that her husband
was extremely fond of her and let her use his money freely. "They
are awfully rich and they live like veritable Gentiles, which is a
common disease among the Jews of America. But then she
observes the commandment, 'Honor thy father.' That she does."
Again he tried to read his book and again the temptation to gossip
was too much for him. He returned to Even's pride, dwelling with
considerable venom upon his love of approbation and vanity.
"May the Uppermost not punish me for my evil words, but to see
him take his roll of bills out of his pocket and pay his contribution
to the synagogue one would think he was some big merchant and
not a poor devil sponging on his son-in-law."
A few minutes later he told me admiringly how Even often
"loaned" him a half-dollar to enable him to do some reading at the
house of God.
"I tell my virago of a wife I have sold fifty cents' worth of goods,"
he explained to me, sadly
After a while the man with the Thackeray face closed his book,
kissed it, and rose to go.
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