A Struggle for Existence.
(Translated from the Yiddish by M. S. Mandell)
CHAPTER XI.
Two hours after Sarah left the house her younger boy, who had been playing at a neighbor's house, came in, looked around the room, gazed at his sleeping sister, then stealthily walked up to the table drawer; took out the bread, broke off a few pieces and ate them very quietly so that no one should hear him chew. The little girl woke up and began to cry. He cared little for her wailings, but after he finished eating, for the sake of appearance, he swung the cradle a little, and in a voice loud enough to be heard in the next room, he said:
"Did somebody hurt you, Eveinke? Did somebody hurt you?" Then he went into the adjoining room and asked: "Freide, where is my mamma?"
"She carried papa his dinner."
"Eveinke cried. I tried to rock her to sleep, but she wouldn't go."
"Be a good boy, and rock her a little longer," said Freide, thinking about her husband.
"All right."
He went back to the room, but instead of tending to the baby he went to the drawer again, helped himself to more bread and ate. Meanwhile his brother, Zalmen, entered. The little fellow quickly threw his hand back so as to hide the bread.
"Where is mamma?" asked Zalmen.
"She is gone out. Carried—papa dinner—" Davy said, in a crying and frightened voice.
"And what have you in your hand?"
"What? Nothing," replied Davy, and letting the bread drop out of his hand, he
said: "Look for yourself!" He showed both hands were empty.
"And what have you thrown down there?" Zalmen asked authoritatively, at the same time picking up the bread.
"Bread—a little piece I took,—very small piece."
"Wait, you wretch, I will tell mamma that you helped yourself to bread."
"A lit—tle—pie—ce," he stammered, and burst into tears.
Zalmen jostled him aside and the younger brother went away.
Zalmen began eating the bit of bread, and waiting for his mother to come and give him his dinner. Eveinke's crying did not seem to distress even her older brother very much; he was used to hear her cry for hours; but when the child cried herself hoarse and lost her strength he walked up to the cradle, asking:
"Eveinke, what are you crying for? You want to eat?"
CHAPTER XII.
The baby stretched out to him her little arms, sobbing as though she were asking for something.
"Are you hungry? Wait, I will give you something." He stepped up to the table, took out a stale piece of white bread, which was left over from the Sabbath, and began to feed her. He did not overlook himself; but the baby enjoyed her share, although she was crying a little between bites. Between them the piece of bread did not last long.
"There is no more, Eveinke," said Zalmen.
But Eveinke was not satisfied and began to cry louder. Zalmen tried his best