The Maccabaean

Ir was some time before the event of which I shall tell you that the Chevra Kadisha of Shikyon held a meeting. It is a curious fact —.and had I time I would tell all about what was said and what was done, but that shall come some other time—that they were discussing the question of Elchanan’s funeral. EI- chanan, you should know, was not as yet dead. It is undoubtediy true that while the young are only liable to die, the old must die; but, as Elchanan’s beard had more gray hairs than black, the Chevra Kadisha was not wandering from its duties in considering him in the light of a candidate for the better world. At the time of this meeting old Elchanan was proud of his activity. He was always busy about his little shop, which stood on the road to Shikyon, and which had the reputation of having the best spirits in the neighborhood. The one concession to his increasing age was the employment of his daughter Chaitzke about the business. Since the death of her mother, she had assumed the duties of mistress. Although only seventeen, she knew that a rouble was worth more than a smile, and that people liked to be flattered, and since the use of her smiles did not involve any expense, she always gave a smile as a souvenir with every purchase. As a result, Reb Elchanan enjoyed a flourishing trade and the respect of his neighbors.

But to return to the Chevra Kadisha meeting. What should happen but that some time before his death Reb Elchanan should make Reb Zebulun, the Rich Man, angry. And about what! It was when Yankele Laps was taken as a substitute to serve in the army in place of Labele, Reb Zebulun’s son. Elchanan was visiting in Shikyon on business, and he said to the crowd in the Beth Hamidrash that a wrong was being done an orphan. He even wen: so far as to say that a poor boy should not be made to serve in place of a rich one, even though it be Reb Zebulun’s son. Natu-

rally, when this was told Reb Zebulun, he was wroth. (Who would not be?) That a Man of the Earth should so insult a man of his standing could not be passed by in silence. Reb Zebulun then called the meeting of the Chevra Kadisha (all of which is introductory to the main part of my story) being Gabbai, for who but a Rich Man could do the honors of the ofhce better? When they met and had partaken of a generous quantity of Reb Zebulun’s vodka, they decided how and what, when and where—they knew nothing about it afterwards—that Elchanan should not be buried in Shikyon; but, of course, if he paid a thousand roubles, he could rest with his fathers as his children would wısh it.

Who knows? Perhaps it was to try the Clievra Kadisha that what followed happened. It is true that soon Elchanan died, died like all of us must die; and his children were gathered about to do the last honors, and the burial was the chief topic of discussion. You can believe me, they all were in great distress. What to do? Well they knew the grudge Reb Zebulun had against their father, and of the resclutions that had been passed. To beg pardon of the Gabbai was like begging pardon ot a snake; and to pay a thousand roubles meant for poor Chaitzke everlasting maidenhood. Who would marry a girl, no matter how beautiful or how virtuous without a dowry? Still the-question was to bury their father. As chance would have it (for God sends the remedy before the plague itself) Motke Pieyak was thought of, for the Lord surely with purpose created him in the image of their father, and gave him a thirsty soul to extricate Elchanan’s children from their difhculty.

To tell you the truth, it took but little vodka to get Motke as drunk as a pig. When he was in a stupor, Chaitzke, assisted by her relatives, dressed him in the dead man's