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Page 4 The Southern Israelite From the Frying Pan Into the Fire A Story in which Love ami Laughter Meet Adapted from the (German (All Right $ Reserved) Ily OSCAR LEONARD Chapter 1. “What pests ‘Piety’ and ‘Wisdom’ are!” grumbled Benzion Goldhaber, a stubby little man with a bristly beard of sordid appearance. “But it all depends on how one uses them. To me both of them shall be useful. I have already made a good beginning with ‘Piety’. The match he is trying to arrange for my Esterka is after my own heart. As for ‘Wisdom’, the time will come. Patience, the time will come, and we shall find some use for him.” That you, dear reader, may not be lieve for a moment that in the pious town where our action takes place, ‘Piety’ and ‘Wisdom’ are marriage brokers, we shall explain forthwith that it is a question of two persons, who acquired these curious nicknames in their little town. Pension Gold- haber himself, who spoke so respect fully of ‘Piety’ and ‘Wisdom’, laid no small claim to the possession of both these qualities and was ever ready to prove his claim by “thousands of witnesses”, namely, the hundreds of thousands of gulden which were his, together with other valuable posses sions. His qualities, however were not unmarred by a fault which made him disliked by his fellow townsmen. He was hard-hearted or rather miserly toward the poor, and even toward his own children. More than all the rest of his children, who were married, his youngest daughter, Esterka, had to suffer from his ill temper and parsi mony, as she was near him all the time. In spite of the hard atmosphere in which she lived, Esterka grew into beautiful womanhood, both in body and in mind, and to the surprise of all, developed views for her future that could not have been suspected in the proximity of such a father. She was determined that the man to whom she was to give her hand and heart was to be entirely different from the husbands her father had chosen for her sisters. First of all, he must possess the ability to earn an honest living by his own efforts. But while these thoughts revolved in the brain of his lovely daughter, Reb Benzion had his eye on an entirely different sort of life partner for her. His choice consisted of a greenish, inex perienced, boyish-looking being, who would have to be dependent on his father-in-law forever. Such a son- in-law was to his taste, because he could be obtained for a trifle, and be cause he was certain that in this way Esterka, whom he wanted near him all the time, would never leave the little native town. Intelligent, wide awake and educated as she was, Ester ka was her father’s right hand in his business, and when he was away from home, as was often the case, she took entire charge. Should she marry a man who had the ability to earn his own bread and butter independently, Reb Benzion thought, he would either have to renounce Esterka’s useful services or part with some of his busi ness earnings by employing his son- in-law'. At this his selfishness re belled. As a rule Reb Benzion never re ceived any one at his home. He said that entertaining was costly. But two guests he w’as always ready to receive. These tw r o were not ordinary persons, and then it was not easy to refuse them hospitality. The two w'ere the proud bearers of the nick names “Wisdom” and “Piety”. “Wis dom”, who was, incidentally, called Itzek Hersh, the Red One, was well liked in his towm. He was distinguish ed on account of his long red beard, which some persons insisted could be seen for miles, and w'hich changed its appearance in accordance with the mood of its possessor. If he was an gry the beard projected forward, threateningly, like a dagger; if he was sad, it hung down dejectedly; and if its possessor was in a happy mood, the object of his distinction encircled his face, peacock like. “Piety” was of clothes-pole slimness. All except his right shoulder. This was thin and served to indicate the moods of Ben- gamin Hoeker, as he was known be fore acquiring the proud nickname. If he was angry the shoulder rose higher and higher like a menacing ocean wave. In case of its owner's joyful mood, the shoulder tried to ap pear as innocent as the shoulders of all other mortals. “Wisdom” had a full bass voice, while “Piety” had a thin piping one. “Wisdom” had for a life guard the motto, “A man must always leave a little back door open for himself.” “Piety” rolled up his eyes, saying: “For myself, I do not care, but I do everything for the glory of God and the good of the commu nity.” They hated each other deeply, and the hate of each extended to those who were in any way on terms of intimacy with the other, so that if one associated with “Piety” he could not escape the poisonous tooth of “Wisdom”, no matter how one tried to avoid it. Where one had any busi ness outlook, the other sniffed in order to do damage, and no one could escape them. They both knew how to & b sorb the most intimate family secrets of their fellow men in the J e *i,k community. Even Reb Benzion was unable to keep the two from his door. But he was more fortunate than many of the others in that he managed to make use of both “Piety” and “Wisdom”. He managed to get “Piety” busy on making the match for his daughter, a: the same time keeping “Wisdom” from interfering. In the light of these facts it is small wonder that the par- simonious man found words of praise for “Wisdom”, as we shall soon see. One day while Reb Benzion was busily assorting some notes, a red flame suddenly caught his eye in the door. It was the appearance of Itzek Hersh. “Good day to you, Reb Benzion," came from the lips over the red beard, as the man, worming his way in. came nearer to the man who was counting money and assorting notes. “ ’D evening,” grumbled Reb Ben zion who did not seem everjoyed a: this unexpected visit. He~became more interested in his occupation, in order to make his visitor understand that he was busy. “You seem to have no time for me just now,” said the “Red One”, stand ing near the door. “Of course—just now—” murmur ed Reb Benzion. “Well then, I shall wait,” decided “Wisdom” as he sat down comfortably on the sofa, and began to stroke his beard and forehead. Reb Benzion hurried to finish his •work so that he might try to rid him self of his uninvited guest. “I am ready,” he growled, as he pushed several bundles of notes into the safe, which he locked carefully. “How can I serve you?” he asked as he turned to the “Red One” with ap parent impatience. “You serve me?” smiled “Wisdom “Just the opposite, I want to serve you.” “Very well”, grumbled Reb Ben zion. “In what way do you want to serve me?” “With something good, natural!} Only good.” “And what do you call good?’ “A match for your Esterka. “Oho!” called out Reb Benzion in astonishment, “since when has "is* dom” begun to mix with match nia'- ers ?” “For your sake, my dear Reb Ben zion,” the “Red One” smiled sweety ‘Wisdom’ would go even into t fire.” “And w'hat kind of match do y - propose?” “We have not reached that poj D yet. Let me first ask a question. “As far as I am concerned, y° u ma * ask. Let’s hear it.” , “My question is,” began Itzik He** slowly and deliberately, “do you ^ my nephew, Sigmund Reifman, is the head book-keeper in a business house in Berlin? (Continued on page 18) The instant milk is delivered, protect it with Ice O THERWISE it will deterio rate, lose its rich flavor and vital food value—become unsafe for a young child to consume. Why take such a chance when you can constantly keep milk fresh and pure at the cost of a few cents per day for ice. Not only milk but other foods need the protection of ice at this time of the year. When you spend a dollar for food, w r hy ndt add a nickel for ice to keep its flavor? Ice melts slowly in the spring months; its cost is but a trifle. City Ice Delivery Company 267 Peachtree WAInut 1287 SAVE WITH ICE