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Page 10 The Southern Israelite Williams-Flint Lumber Co. 250 Elliott, N. W. IVy 1093 Kulail Drillers in LUMBER AND BUILDERS SUPPLIES Chicago’s MORRISON HOTEL Madison and Clark Streets Tallest Hotel in the World 46 Stories High Cht A/f» /Morrison, when completed. »ill hr the lorgest and tallest hotel in the world, containing 1,400 rooms SAM R GREENBERG, Ft—. P. J. BLOOMFIELD, 9«c Sam Greenberg & Co. FUNERAL DIRECTORS AMBULANCE CHAPEL 96 Forrest Ave., N. E. — Phone WAlnut 7909 ATLANTA, GA. INVESTMENT SECURITIES MUNICIPAL BONDS CORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT BONDS STOCKS LOCAL SECURITIES UNDERWRITERS OF SOUTHERN SECURITIES ,S-Sr„ COURTS & CO.-O-Ss-. ATLANTA From the Frying Pan into the Fire A Story in which Love and Laughter Meet Adapted from the German ( til Rights Reserved) Ky OSCAR LEONARD CHAPTER G A message which brought joy rather than sorrow suddenly spread all over the little town. It traveled from the parlours in the homes of the well-to-do to the garrets of the poor; it went from synagogue to store, from market-place to wine-shop. It was a message expressed in these few short words: Benzion, the miser, died in Russia. People forgot their troubles, their business cares, their trials and trib ulations, as if by magic. Pension the miser was dead! It rang in the ears of all those who knew him and seemed to prophesy a new epoch and a better one for their town. Every one was discussing it. everyone was philoso phizing about it. The heirs of the mi ser had a rather difficult task trying to appear sad and mournful. The paupers w-ere glad to he rid of the miser who had never given them a “kreizer.” The representatives of the communal institutions were glad be cause they felt that perhaps in the last hour the parsimonious man thought of the institutions and left something for them. Reb Benjamin Hoeker waited anxiously to hear what Reb Penzion had done for the “glory- of God and the good of the commu nity.” Reb Ttzik Hersh’s face was so crimson with joy that his flaming red heard seemed somewhat faded. The one thing which troubled the representatives of the community, the paupers and all other inhabitants of the district, was the fear that per haps the news was merely a rumor that might prove unfounded. A few days later, however, all doubt disap peared. A letter came to the head of the community from Berlin which proved conclusively that Reb Pen zion was dead. In this letter was en closed Reb Penzion ’s will. sa community head came a messaj telling how Reb Penzion took suddei ly ill an d died two days later. It w: also recorded how he called the rab to his death bed and dictated tl following will: “It is the will of God that I breatl my last here, far from wife, childre relatives and friends. May He is H mercy give you all long life and ha piness, and when the end comes mj it come when you are at home wi your families surrounding you, f the presence of wife and child mak death less bitter. The Lord, w! knows the human soul, knows how n heart longs for my wife and childr* and for those I know. I wish to b< >ou all to forgive me for whatev harm I may have done you. If y< could look into my heart now y< would see how it craves forgivene and you would gladly forgive me n transgressions. As far as I can shall try in my last hour to recti some of my offenses against my fan ly, against the community, ai against the poor of the town I ho that everything in this, my last sta1 ment, will be carried out as it written down. All my wealth, consisting of go silver, properties and bonds, shall equally divided among my children. “Before the division is made, how. ever, the following bequests shall be subtracted: Twenty thousand gulden for the building of a Jewish Hospital, which shall bear my name; ten thous and gulden for the establishment of a home for aged and infirm Jews. For this purpose the house in which my family now lives shall be used. “It is my last will that Sigmund Reifman, son of the widow Sarah Reifman, shall marry my daughter Esterka. In my hard-heartedness I wanted to tear asunder two souls which were united since childhood. In order to accomplish this I used un worthy means and calumnies. It was I who spread the rumor of his bap tism, which nearly drove him insane and almost broke his mother’s heart. In all these things I had as a con federate a demon in human attire named Benjamin Hoeker, who drove me to these unworthy actions which I now regret. I would advise every one to keep away from this creature, so as not to fall into his meshes as I have. Perhaps this sin caused my death here among strangers. In order to make amends for this terrible sin I wish that the wedding of my daugh ter Esterka and Sigmund Reifman shall take place immediately after the seven days’ mourning. “I further bequeath to my wife the sum of thirty thousand gulden and close my eyes in the assurance that my children will honor and obey her all her life, as a mother should be honored and obeyed. “This is my last will and testa ment, which I dictateed of my own free will, while in full possession of my senses, and I desire that no one shall make any attempt to keep it from being carried out. In proof whereof I here append my signature, BENZION GELDHABER.” Astonishment filled the little town. Every one was interested in the will and the remarkable way in which Sig mund was cleared before the commu nity. Sigmund had left his hiding place and now stayed with his mother. All those who had hooted and stoned him tried to make amends by being very kind to him. They wanted to forget the unpleasant reception. All the women who avoided Sigmunds mother when they thought that her son was a convert, went out of their way now to speak to her and tell her how they wished their own sons * ere as good men as was her Sigmund. The heirs of Reb Benzion mean while entered upon their seven days mourning. The visits of sympatne 1 friends who came to offer the c _ tomary condolence almost transfer ed the mourning into a festive oce sion. Reb Itzik Hersh proudly his red beard fanlike. As for e s min Hoeker—never in all his life he in such great demand. The rep sentatives of the community wa . him in order to ask him to a *- c ^ for all the moneys he collects the glory of God and the gooi 0 community.” The “Shochet an • e “chazan” sought him in order o^ vengeance on him for all the m -