The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, September 20, 1929, Image 18

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K x x s x x ;; i::: ;; ~ Page 18 Season's Greetirips HUMMEL & PERRY GENERAL INSURANCE WILMINGTON, N. C. r ! NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS PIONEER SERVICE STATION ,'112 No. Front Si. II e Appreciate \ our Business WILMINGTON, IN. C. L. SEASON'S BRKKTINCS Royal Theatre ’The Place To (it*' WILMINGTON, N. C. X X & X X X X X X X X X Xl;K 5t X X X X X X X X X X X X NEW YEAR'S ! GREETINGS THE COLUMBIA I RECORD Columbia, S. C. 'a x'x x x X x x x x x X X x x x x x x x x x x x x x Thk Southern Israelite From the Frying Pan into the Fire A story in which Love ami Laughter Meet Adapted from the German ( All Muhin Rrneri t'A) lly OSCAR LEONARD CHAPTER 7 The reader will perhaps he aston ished to hear that while the ghost of Reb Benzion was making the Rood people of his town uneasy with his nightly visits, Reb Benzion himself was in the best of health attending business in Berlin, where the waiters of restaurants wondered at the enor mous appetite of their Galician cus tomer. His sleep was the sleep of a healthy man, who was far from think ing of death. But where did the will come from? How were the signatures and seals obtained ? These are some questions which the readers have a right to ask. The answer is short but convincing. Reb Itzik Hersh took the trouble of writing out the will and sent it to Berlin to his friend, who knew that for money all kinds of seals could he obtained. As for the signatures, they weie of fictitious per sons, as the real names of the heads of the community where Reb Benzion was supposed to have breathed his last were not known in the small Galician town. Reb Itzik Hersh’s friend also saw to it that Reb Ben zion should remain there two months longer than he had intended. He told of all kinds of good business prospects which kept the parsimonious man from leav.ng the German capitol. At home Reb Itzik Hersh, as we know, was losing no time. He was working out his plans, and when all was in readiness, he advised his Berlin friends to let Reb Benzion go. When the latter saw that the supposed pros pects failed to materialize, he left the city mourning the money spent by staying there too long. Nor was he overjoyed by the fact that his journey homeward was to last part of the win ter. By the end of December, late at night, he at last arrived in his little Galician town again. It was a dark starless night, and the streets were covered with glistening snow. A frost which froze one’s breath tyrannized the little town which lay buried in snow. As he traveled through the streets in a vehicle, Reb Benzion did not meet one living being. The wagon made its way through the deep snow with great difficulty. The wheels creaked and the horses, half frozen, with icicles hanging down their manes, breathed heavily as they drew their burden. Only the moan of the wind interrupted the silence of the night, while from time to time the driver’s voice reverberated in the still ness : Whao. Giddyap.” In spite of the heavy fur coat in which he was wrapped, Reb Benzion was stiff with cold. His gray beard was full of icicles and “peyes” (ear locks) hung stiff on each side of his face like daggers. He was filled with joy when the wagon stopped in front of a house which was familiar to him. He got out as quickly as his stiff limbs would permit him, approached the gate and began to knock with all his might. After pounding on the door with fists and feet, he heard a voice within ask: “Who is there?” . “A strange voice,” grumbled Reb Benzion. “Confound it, they have changed servants again! Come on, you lazy blockhead!” he yelled as loud as he could. “Open that gate.” The voice from within, instead of answering or saying anything encour aging, asked again: "Who is there?” “What business is it of yours who it is?” Benzion snarled. “Open the door, you lazybones. It’s Benzion. Now, do you know who it is, you dog of a servant. Open this very minute!” “Yes, yes, yes,” came a trembling voice from within. “Reb Benzion, God be with you. stay away from us, from the living. Go back to your resting place.” “What is that, fellow muttering?” Reb Benzion asked the driver. “I can’t make it out myself. As far as I can understand, he thinks you’re a dead one. That’s a good one your servant has on you.” *'What?” snapped Benzion and he shook his fist threateningly at the gate. “To whom do you dare to speak that way? You rascal, I’ll teach you a lesson after I get in. Open the door this very minute, you soul of a dog, you!” The “soul of a dog” did not seem to take much pleasure in listening to Reh Benzion’s compliments, and de cided to let him rave and swear and knock, while he went back to his warm bed. The driver clapped his hands, beat his arms one against the other in an effort to warm himself a little. But as the frost seemed to gain in inten sity, the driver remarked: “That servant wants you to stay away from the living. 1 guess if we remain here half an hour longer his wish will be fulfilled. This frost is the kind that helps such things along." Reb Benzion raved and knocked with both fists at the gate until drops of perspiration trickled down his brow in spite of the fierce frost. “As you see, sir.” said the driver, “this servant is determined that you stay away from him. He does not seem ready for debates. Perhaps you could try your luck with a neighbor—” Reb Benzion thought that perhaps the driver was right. Acting on his suggestion he went to knock at the nearest neighbor’s door. “Who is at the gate,” a shrill voice from within asked. "It is I, Reb Shmaye. Will you kindly open the gate for me?” "Who did you say you were?” ask ed the voice, apparently troubled. "It is I, your neighbor. Benzion.” “Benzion?” wondered the voice. “Sh’ma Yisroel, Sh’ma Yisroel!" Look here, my dear sir,” began the driver, “I am beginning to be afraid of you myself. We are all alone here, you may tell me the truth. Are you really a dead one? In any case, I want you to pay me my money. I want to be sure of my hard-earned cash. I don’t care to have much to do with dead people.” (.has. D. Gordon, Preside, imperial HOTEL COLUMBIA, S. ( . "In the Heart of tUr f i/y” ❖ Kat<*n 81.50, 82.00 & >42.50 EUROPEAN PLAN ELEVATOR SERVICE GREETINGS For the New Year CAPITAL CITY LAUNDRY AND DYE WORKS We <lo Pry Cleaning < lolunihia. S. < x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x.... David G. x GENERAL INSl RAN’CE 1221 Washington Si. Columbia. S. L. X X X X X X X X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x The Independent Ice Co. and General OtfW and Brunswick St* rtINGTOV >• c