The Maccabaean

( Translated from the Yiddish by M. S. Mandell )

CHAPTER VII.—(Continued.)

With this man Leah formed acquaintance in a friend's house, where he once told the following story concerning himself:

"Our family was very large and in order to provide for some of the children I was given away to serve as apprentice to a watch-maker. Why I was given to this particular trade and not to shoemaking or black-smithing I do not know. To my knowledge, I had no particular fancy for watch-making and no one inquired of me whether I would like to learn the trade or not. In fact, I feel sure that could they have made agreeable arrangements with a tailor or a shoemaker I would have learned one of these trades. I served an apprenticeship for four years. My master's wife made use of me as an errand boy; sometimes the men in the shop made me do their messenger work. In fact, I had to do everything they bade me. For three years I did nothing else, but the fourth and last year I was put to work. After completing my apprenticeship I worked for two years as master's aid, then, by recommendation, I got a position with one of the fashionable watch-makers, who was also a university graduate. In this place I diligently worked for three years. My boss was well pleased with my work and with me, but when I asked him to increase my wages, which were small enough, he became angry. He could not see why the pleasure

of working for an educated man was not sufficient in itself. It took me quite a while to decide to leave the scholarly Mr. M—. Although my existence was a miserable one and I had not improved any in my work, yet wherever I went I might not earn even as much as he paid me. Finally, I came to the decision and left him. In the beginning my change was not for the better, but I resolved to sell all the things I could get along without and with the money I paid a student to give me lessons at night. I lived very economically. I took no walks for fear of wearing out my shoes. I soon improved in my work, and having learned the language, I went to look for work in one of the best German establishments. I soon found out that the Germans would not employ a Jewish watch-maker, so I went to a fashionable Jewish store only to learn that they employed no one but Gentiles. I had an old acquaintance, a German watch-maker, who often gave me his extra work. He promised to talk it over with his master.

"It is true," said the German to his employer, 'that Jews are not very good workmen, for where can they perfect themselves in their trade, since even the good places kept by their own people do not employ them? But not all the Jews are poor workmen, neither are all poor workmen Jews. But, as for this young man, I guarantee he knows his business.'

"This had some effect upon the Jewish