The Maccabaean

THE springtime—and then what a bustle in this world here below. All beings—creeping things, cattle, the birds of heaven, man—go forth to their labor, building and mending and turning and preparing their nests and dwellings in holes and caves, in field and wood, in town and village. At that time woman reigns supreme in the household. At her command the windows, closed all the rainy season, are opened. At her behest the household furnishings are overhauled. The tables and chairs, the stools and beds and bureau are moved about and arranged—all according to her will. And alas for him who interferes with her or irritates her. For he will be utterly withered by a fiery blast from her mouth. Therefore, the husband of understanding will betake himself hence and be silent.

Gabriel Carps, being both a man of understanding and a husband of understanding, betook himself to his own room early in the morning of the fourteenth day of Nisan. With bent head and troubled brow, he sat himself at his desk, and kept staring blankly at a dilapidated bookcase in a corner of the room. He seemed to be plunged in sadness and deep thought.

That bookcase had been moved aboutrather much from the day it had enteredCarps' house up to the time when it hadbeen rolled into this room. Here it hadbeen standing these many years, like a poorbeggar, behind finer cases; and it had beenconcealed from the gaze of the graciousmistress of the house and from the gaze ofher worthy husband, who was now hardlyaware of its existence. But to-day the mistress Carps had sallied forth to inspect thestate of her household's cleanliness. Inher inexorable sense of justice she decreedthat the law of the Passover required the

"Carps," cried out the man who had entered, after having stood at the door a short while, astonished and silent.

confiscation of the bookcase and its relegation to the cellar, there to be stored with other broken and unseemly articles. Now it was that Carps bethought him of the case, and his parting from it was very hard. But what could he do, seeing that a decree issued by his wife were not to be revoked? And, although there was not much in the bookcase to brag about, yet it was now to be burned and excommunicated, and he felt very sad all day long. Carps, solitary, sat like a mourner and like one put to shame. Suddenly he stood up and went to the case, like a man going to greet his fellow and to bid him farewell. He opened it and took out a large, thick volume, from among the crowded and dusty and wormy books. He looked at it, shaking his head; then he turned and placed it on the table. He opened the book and was contemplating it, when he jumped up from his chair in great excitement, as though a snake had bitten him. He began to pace the floor in such great distraction that he was not aware that any one had entered the room.

Carps trembled at the sound of the voice,turned around and looked at the speaker.Immediately he rushed forward and criedout:

"Zarehi, my friend! . . . A hearty welcome to you, my guest!"

“How are you, Carps, my old friend?”

“When did you come, and whence? And why are you standing at the door?”

"I am coming in, now! . . . I have been travelling, and my business brought me to your town."