Chapter XVIII: Bontsie Silent

Here, in this world, the death of Bontsie Silent produced no impression. You will ask in vain who Bontsie was, how he lived, and what caused his death. Did his heart burst, did his strength give out, or were his bones crushed under a heavy load ... who knows? Maybe, after all, he died of starvation!

* * * * *

There would have been displayed more interest if it had been a street-car horse that had fallen dead. Newspapers would have reported about it, hundreds of people would have congregated from all the streets to look at the carcass and even to survey the spot where the accident had occurred!

But even the street-car horse would not be honored in such a distinguished way if there were as many millions of them in existence as there are men.

Bontsie had lived quietly, and he died quietly. He passed through the world like a shadow.

No wine was drunk on the day of Bontsie's circumcision; no cups were clinked. At his confirmation he made no flowery speech ... he lived like a small, yellow grain of sand on the seashore, among millions of its kind, and no one noticed how the wind lifted it up and carried it on the other side of the Ocean.

* * * * *

In his lifetime the wet mud kept no impression of his

Fuss nischt behalten; nāch'n Tōdt hāt der Wind dās klēine Brettel
vun sein Keewer umgeworfen, un' dem Kabren's Weib hāt es gefun'en
weit vun Keewer un' derbei a Töppel Kartoffles ābgekocht.... Es is'
drei Täg' nāch Bonzje's Tōdt, frägt dem Kabren becheerem, wu er hāt
ihm gelēgt!

Wollt' Bonzje chotsch a Mazeewe geha't, wollt' efscher über hundert
Jāhr sie an Alterthumsforscher gefun'en un' Bonzje Schweig wollt'
noch a Māl übergeklungen in unser Luft.

A Schātten, sein Photographje is' nischt geblieben bei Kēinem in
Harz; es is' vun ihm kēin Seecher in Kēinem's Mōach nischt
geblieben!

"Kēin Kind, kēin Rind,"--elend gelebt, elend gestorben!

Wenn nischt dās menschliche Geruder, wollt' efscher Emizer a Māl
gehört, wie Bonzje's Marchbein hāt unter der Masse geknackt: wollt'
die Welt mehr Zeit geha't, wollt' Emizer efscher a Māl bemerkt, as
Bonzje (äuch a Mensch) hāt lebedigerhēit zwēi ausgeloschene Äugen
un' schrecklich eingefallene Backen; as afile wenn er hāt gār schōn
kēin Masse nit auf die Pleezes, is' ihm äuch der Kopp zu der Erd'
gebōgen, gleich er wollt' lebedigerhēit sein Keewer gesucht!
Wollten asō wēnig Menschen wie Ferd in Tramwaj gewesen, wollt'
efscher a Māl Emizer gefrägt: Wu is' Bonzje ahin gekummen?

Wenn män hāt Bonzjen in Spital areingeführt, is' sein Winkel in
Suterine nischt lēdig geblieben,--es hāben derauf zehn
Seins-gleichen gewart't, un' zwischen sich dem Winkel "In-pljum"
lizitirt; wenn män hāt'n vun Spitalbett in Tōtenstübel arein
getrāgen, hāben auf'n Bett zwanzig āreme Chaluim gewart't.... Wenn
er is' araus vun Tōtenstübel, hāt män zwanzig Harugim vun unter ēin
eingefallen Haus gebrengt,--wer

footsteps; after his death the wind threw down the small board over his grave, and the grave-digger's wife found it far away from the mound and made a fire with it over which she boiled a pot of potatoes.... It is but three days since Bontsie's death, but you will ask in vain of the grave-digger where he has laid him at rest!

If Bontsie had had a tombstone, an archæologist might have found it a hundred years later, and Bontsie's name would have resounded again in our atmosphere.

He was but a shadow: his picture does not live in anybody's heart; his memory does not exist in anybody's mind!

He left no child, no possessions! He had lived in misery, and he died in misery.

Had it not been for the noise of the crowd, some one might have heard the snapping of Bontsie's bones under a heavy burden; if the world had had more time, some one might have noticed that Bontsie's eyes were dim and his eyes frightfully sunken for one alive; that even when he carried no load on his shoulders, his head was bent to the ground as if he were looking for the grave! If there were as few people as there are horses in the street cars, some one might, perhaps, have asked: What has become of Bontsie?

* * * * *

When Bontsie was taken to the hospital, his corner in the basement was not left unoccupied; ten people of his sort had been waiting for it, and it was auctioned off to the highest bidder; when they carried him from the hospital bed to the morgue, twenty poor people were waiting for his bed. When he left the morgue, they brought in twenty people who had been killed by a falling wall.... Who knows how long he will rest

wēisst, wie lang er wet ruhig wōhnen in Keewer? Wer wēisst, wieviel
es warten schōn auf dem Stückel Platz....

Still gebōren, still gelebt, still gestorben un' noch stiller
begrāben.

Nor nischt asō is' gewesen auf jener Welt! Dorten hat Bonzje's Tōdt
a grōssen Rōschem gemacht!

Der grōsser Schōfer vun Moschiach's Zeiten hāt geklungen in alle
sieben Himmlen: Bonzje Schweig is' nifter gewor'en! Die grösste
Malochim mit die brēit'ste Flügel senen geflōgen un' Ēiner dem
Anderen übergegeben: Bonzje is' "nischbakesch" gewor'en "bischiwo
schel majlo"! In Ganeeden is' a Rasch, a Ssimche, a Geruder:
"Bonzje Schweig! A Spass Bonzje Schweig!!!"

Junge Malochimlech mit brilljantene Aeugelech, goldene
drāht-arbeitene Flügelech un' silberene Pantöffelech senen Bonzjen
ankegen geloffen mit Ssimche! Der Gerasch vun die Flügel, dās
Klappen vun die Pantöffelech un' dās froehliche Lachen vun die
junge, frische, rosige Maülechlech hāt verfüllt alle Himmlen un'
is' zugekummen bis zum Kisse-ha-kowed, un' Gott allēin hāt äuch
schōn gewusst, as Bonzje Schweig kummt!

Awrohom Owinu hāt sich in Thōer vun Himmel gestellt, die rechte
Hand ausgestellt zum brēiten "Scholem-aleechem!" un' a süsser
Schmēichel scheint asō hell auf sein alten Ponim!

Wās rädelt asō in Himmel?

Dās hāben zwēi Malochim in Ganeeden arein far Bonzje's wegen a
gingoldene Vāterstuhl auf Rädlech geführt!

Wās hāt asō hell geblitzt?

Dās hāt män durchgeführt a goldene Krōn', mit die theuerste Stēiner
gesetzt! All's far Bonzjen!

quietly in his grave? Who knows how many are already waiting for his place?

* * * * *

Born quietly, lived quietly, died quietly, and still more quietly buried!

But matters went differently in the other world! There Bontsie's death produced a sensation!

The sound of Moses' ram's horn was heard in all the seven heavens: Bontsie Silent has died! The greatest angels, with the broadest wings, were flying about and announcing the news to each other: Bontsie has been summoned before the Judgment Seat! There is a noise, an excitement, a joy in Heaven: Bontsie Silent! Just think of it,--Bontsie Silent!!!

Young little angels with sparkling eyes, gold-worked wings, and silver slippers rushed out to receive Bontsie with joy! The buzzing of their wings, the clatter of their slippers, and the merry laughter of the young, fresh, and rosy little mouths filled the heavens and reached the Seat of Honor, and God himself knew that Bontsie Silent was coming!

Father Abraham placed himself at the gate of Heaven, and he stretched out his right hand for a friendly "Peace be with you!" and a sweet smile lit up his old face!

* * * * *

What are they rolling there in Heaven?

Two angels are rolling into Paradise an armchair of pure gold on wheels for Bontsie!

* * * * *

What caused that lightning?

They are carrying a golden crown, all set in the most precious stones! All for Bontsie!

--Noch var'n Psak vun Bess-din-schel-majle? frägen die Zadikim
verwundert un' nischt gār ohn' Kine.

* * * * *

--Oh! entwern die Malochim, dās wet sein a proste, puste Forme!
Gegen Bonzje Schweig wet afile der Katēgor kēin Wort in Maul nischt
gefin'en! Die Djele wet dauern fünf Minut!

Ihr spielt sich mit Bonzje Schweig?

* * * * *

As die Malochimlech hāben Bonzjen gechappt in der Luft un'
ābgespielt ihm a Semer; as Awrohom Owinu hāt ihm wie an alten
Kamrat die Hand geschockelt; as er hāt gehört, as sein Stuhl is'
grēit in Ganeeden; as auf sein Kopp wart't a Krōn', as in
Bess-din-schel-majle wet män über ihm kēin übrig Wort nischt
reden,--hāt Bonzje, gleich wie auf jener Welt, geschwiegen var
Schreck! Es is' ihm dās Harz entgangen. Er is' sicher, as dās mus
sein a Cholem, oder a proster Toes!

Er is' Bēide gewōhnt! Nischt ēin Māl hāt sich ihm auf jener Welt
gecholemt, as er klaubt Geld auf der Podloge, ganze Ōzres liegen
... un' hāt sich aufgechappt noch a grösserer Kabzen wie
nächten.... Nischt ēin Māl hāt män in'm a Toes gehāt, es hāt ihm
Emiz zugeschmēichelt, a gut Wort gesāgt un' bald sich übergedrēht
un' ausgespiegen....

--Mein Masel, tracht er, is' schōn asō!

Un' er hāt Mōre, die Äugen aufzuhēben, der Cholem soll nischt
verschwunden wer'en; er soll sich nischt aufchappen ergez in a
Hoehl' zwischen Schlangen un' Egdissen! Er hāt Mōre vun Maul a
Klang arauszulāsen, a Tnue mit an Eewer zu machen,--män soll ihm
nischt derkennen un' nischt awegschleudern auf Kaf-hakal....

Er zittert un' hört nit die Malochim's Komplimenten,

"What? Even before the sentence of the Supreme Court has been passed?" the saints ask not without envy.

"Oh!" answer the angels, "that will be a mere formality. The Prosecuting Attorney himself will find no words against Bontsie! The case will last but five minutes!"

Bontsie Silent--that's no trifling matter!

* * * * *

As the angels carried Bontsie through the air and played sweet tunes to him; as Father Abraham shook his hand like that of an old comrade; as he heard that his chair was ready for him in Paradise, that a crown was waiting for his head, that no trifling words would be spoken against him before the Supreme Court,--Bontsie was frightened into silence just as in the other world! His heart failed him. He was sure that this was but a dream, or a mere mistake!

He had been used to both. Many a time he had dreamed in the other world of picking up money from the floor where fortunes were lying.... More than once they had mistaken him for some one else; they had smiled at him, had said a good word, and then had turned aside, and spit out....

* * * * *

"That's just my luck!" thought he.

And he is afraid to raise his eyes for fear that the dream would disappear, that he should not awaken somewhere in a cave full of serpents and lizards. He is afraid to utter a sound, to move a limb, lest he be recognized and hurled to perdition.

* * * * *

He trembles and does not hear the compliments of

seht nischt sejer Arumtanzen arum ihm, er entwert nischt Awrohom
Owinu auf'n herzlichen Scholem-aleechem, un'--geführt zum
Bess-din-schel-majle, sāgt er ihm kein "Gut Morgen" nischt....

Bonzje is' ausser sich var Schreck!

Un' sein schreckliche Schreck is' noch grösser gewor'en as er hāt,
nischt willendig, unter seine Füss' dersehn die Podloge vun
Bess-din-schel-majle. Ssame Alabaster mit Brilljanten! "Auf asa
Podloge stēhen meine Füss'!" Er wert in Ganzen verstarrt. "Wer
wēisst, welchen Gwir, welchen Row, welchen Zadik män mēint ... er
wet kummen, wet sein mein finsterer Ssof!"

Var Schreck hāt er afile nit gehört, wie der Präses hāt befeeresch
ausgerufen: "Die Djele vun Bonzje Schweig!" un', derlangendig dem
Meeliz-jōscher die Akten, gesāgt: "Les', nor bekizer!"

Mit Bonzjen drēht sich der ganzer Salon, es rauscht ihm in die
Ōheren, nor in'm Gerausch hört er alle Māl scharfer un' scharfer
dem Malech-meeliz's süss Kol wie a Fiedel:

--Sein Nāmen, hört er, hāt ihm gepasst, wie zum schlank Leib a
Klēid vun an Artist a Schneider's Hand."

--Wās redt er? frägt sich Bonzje, un' er hört, wie an umgeduldig
Kol hackt ihm über un' sāgt:

* * * * *

--Nor ohn' Mescholim!

--Er hāt kēin Māl, hēbt weiter ān der Meeliz-jōscher, auf Kēinem
nischt geklāgt, nischt auf Gott, nischt auf Leut'; in sein Äug' hāt
kēin Māl nischt aufgeflammt kēin Funk' Ssine, er hāt es kēin Māl
nischt aufgehōben mit a Pretensje zum Himmel.

Bonzje verstēht weiter nischt a Wort, un' dās harte Kol schlāgt
weiter über:

the angels, does not see their dancing around him, does not reply to Father Abraham's hearty "Peace be with you!" and being led before the Supreme Court he does not say "Good morning" to them.

Bontsie is beside himself with terror.

And his terrible fear is still increased when by accident he notices the floor of the Court Hall under his feet. Pure alabaster and brilliants! "On such a floor do my feet tread!" He grows stiff with fright. "Who knows what rich man, what Rabbi, what saint they mean!... I shall fare ill when he will come!"

* * * * *

In his terror he did not even hear the Presiding Officer's call: "The case of Bontsie Silent!" and his saying to the Advocate, as he handed him the documents: "Read, but be short!"

The whole hall is turning around with Bontsie, there is a din in his ears, and through it he can distinguish more sharply and more sharply the voice of the Advocate as sweet as a violin:

"His name," he hears him saying, "has fit him like an artist-tailor's gown on a graceful body."

"What is he talking about?" Bontsie asks himself. And he hears an impatient voice interrupting him, and saying:

"Pray, without similes!"

"He has never, proceeds the Advocate, complained against any one, neither against God nor against man! There has never flamed up a spark of hatred in his eyes; he has never uplifted them with any pretensions to Heaven."

Bontsie again does not understand a word, and the harsh voice interrupts him:

--Ohn' Retorik!

--Iow hāt nischt ausgehalten, er is' umglücklicher gewesen--

--Fakten, truckene Fakten! ruft noch umgeduldiger der Präses.

--Zu acht Tāg' hāt men ihm male gewesen--

--Nor ohn' Realism!

--A Mōhel, a Fuscher hāt dās Blut nit verhalten--

* * * * *

--Weiter!

--Er hāt alls geschwiegen, führt weiter der Meeliz-jōscher, afile
wenn die Mutter is' ihm gestorben un' er hāt zu dreizehn Jāhr a
Stiefmame bekummen ... a Stiefmame--a Schlang, a Marschaas....

--Mēint man doch efscher fort mich? tracht Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Ohn' Insinuazjes auf dritte Personen, boesert sich der Präses.

--Sie flegt ihm žalewen dem Bissen ... ēher-nächtig verschimmelt
Brōt ... Hāar-flachs far Flēisch ... un' sie hāt Kawe mit Schmetten
getrunken--

--Zu der Sach'--schreit der Präses.

--Sie hāt ihm far dās kēin Nägel nischt gekargt un' sein
blo-un'-blo Leib flegt arauskucken vun alle Löcher vun seine
verschimmelt-zurissene Klēider.... Winter, in die grösste Fröst',
hāt er ihr bārwess auf'n Hōf Holz gehackt, un' die Händ' senen zu
jung un' schwach gewesen, die Klötzlech zu dick, die Hack zu
stumpig ... nischt ēin Māl hāt er sich die Händ' vun die Stawes
ausgelenkt, nischt ēin Māl hāt er sich die Füss' ābgefrōren, nor
geschwiegen hāt er afile sich var'n Vāter--

--Var'n Schiker! lacht arein der Katēgor, un' Bonzje werd kalt in
alle Eewrim--

"Please, without rhetoric!"

"Job did not endure, but he has been more unfortunate--"

"Facts! Dry facts!" the President calls out more impatiently.

"On the eighth day he was circumcised--"

"Pray, without realism!"

"The surgeon was a quack, and he did not stanch the blood."

"Go on!"

"He was always silent," the Advocate proceeds, "even when his mother died, and he got upon his thirteenth year a stepmother ... a stepmother--a snake, a witch."

"Maybe he really means me?" Bontsie thinks to himself.

"Leave out insinuations against third persons!" says the President, angrily.

"She begrudged him every morsel.... Musty bread, three days old ... tendons for meat ... and she drank coffee with cream...."

"Let's come to business!" cries the President.

"And she did not spare him her finger nails, and his blue-and-black body peeped through all the holes of his musty clothes.... In winter, in the severest frosts, he chopped wood for her in his bare feet, and his hands were too young and too weak, the blocks too large, the axe too dull.... More than once he had sprained his wrists, more than once he had frozen his feet, but he was silent, and even to his father--"

* * * * *

"The drunkard!" the Prosecuting Attorney laughs out loud, and a shiver passes over Bontsie's body.

--Nischt geklāgt,--endigt der Meeliz-jōscher dem Satz.

--Un' ständig elend, führt er weiter, kēin Chawer, kēin
Talmud-tōre, kēin Cheeder, kēin Schkole ... kēin ganz Beged ...
kēin freie Minut--

--Fakten! ruft weiter der Präses.

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile später, wenn der Vāter hāt'n schikerhēit
a Māl āngechappt bei die Hāar un' in Mitten a schneewindiger
Winternacht arausgeworf en van Stub'! Er hāt sich still aufgehōben
vun Schnee un' is' entloffen, wu die Äugen hāben ihm getrāgen....

Auf'n ganzen Weg hāt er geschwiegen ... beim grössten Hunger hāt er
nor mit die Äugen gebettelt.

Erscht in a schwindeldige, nasse Wjosne-nacht is' er in a grōsse
Stādt areingekummen; er is' arein wie a Troppen in a Jam un' doch
hāt er die ēigene Nacht in Kose genächtigt.... Er hāt geschwiegen,
nischt gefrägt far wās, far wenn? Er is' araus un' die schwerste
Arbēit gesucht! Nor er hāt geschwiegen!

Noch schwerer far der Arbeit is' gewesen sie zu gefin'en,--er hāt
geschwiegen!

Bādendig sich in kalten Schwēiss, zusammengedrückt unter der
schwerster Last, beim grössten Krampf vun'm lēdigen Māgen, hāt er
geschwiegen!

Bespritzt vun fremder Blote, bespiegen vun fremde Maüler, gejāgt
vun Trotuaren mit der schwerster Last arāb in Gassen zwischen
Droschkes, Kareten un' Tramwajs, kuckendig jede Minut dem Tōdt in
die Äugen arein,--hāt er geschwiegen!

Er hāt kēin Māl nischt übergerechent, wieviel vun Masse es kummt
aus auf a Groschen, wieviel Māl er is' gefallen bei jeden Gang far
a Dreier, wieviel Māl er hāt schier nischt die Neschome
ausgespiegen, māhnendig sein Verdienst, er hāt nischt gerechent,
nischt sein, nischt Jenem's Masel, nor geschwiegen!

"He did not complain!" the Advocate concludes his sentence.

"And eternally alone, he proceeds,--no friend, no religious instruction, no school ... not a whole garb ... not a free minute!"

"Stick to facts!" calls out the President.

"He was silent even later, when his father, in a drunken fit, once grabbed him by his hair and kicked him out of the house into a stormy winter night. He quietly picked himself up and ran whither his eyes carried him.

"He was silent on his whole journey ... in the greatest frost he begged only with his eyes.

"In a nasty, wet spring night he arrived in a large city; he fell in like a drop in the Ocean, and yet he passed that very night in the police jail.... He was silent, did not ask why. He came out of it, and looked for the hardest work! And he was all the time silent.

* * * * *

"Much harder than the work was the finding of the same,--and he was silent.

"Bathing in cold sweat, bent under the heaviest burdens, during the severest cramps of his empty stomach,--he was silent!

"Besmutted by strangers' mud, bespit by strangers' mouths, driven with his heavy load from the sidewalks into the streets among buggies, coaches, and street cars, looking every moment into the eyes of death,--he was silent!

"He never calculated how many pounds of load came to every penny, how many times he stumbled on every three kopeks' errand, how many times he almost exhaled his soul collecting his pay; he did not beseech or curse,--he only was silent!

Sein ēigen Verdienst hāt er nischt hōch gemāhnt. Wie a Bettler hāt
er sich bei der Thür gestellt, un' in die Äugen hāt sich a
hüntische Bakosche gemālt! "Kumm' später!" un' er is' wie a
Schātten still verschwunden gewor'en, kedee später noch stiller
auszubettlen sein Verdienst!

Er hāt afile geschwiegen, wenn män flegt ihm ābreissen vun sein
Verdienst, oder ihm areinzuwarfen a falsche Matbeje ... er hāt alls
geschwiegen....

--Mēint män doch take mich! troest't sich Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Ēin Māl, führt weiter der Meeliz-jōscher noch a Trunk Wasser, is'
in sein Leben a Schinui gewor'en ... es is' durchgeflōgen a Kotsch
mit gummene Räder mit zuploschete Ferd' ... der Schmeisser is'
schōn lang vun weitens gelegen mit a zuspaltenem Kopp auf'n Bruk
... vun die derschrockene Ferd's Maüler spritzt der Schaum, vun
unter die Podkowes jāgen sich Funken, wie vun Lokomotiw, die Äugen
blischtschen wie brennendige Sturkatzen in a finsterer Nacht,--un'
in Kotsch sitzt nischt tōt, nischt lebedig, a Mensch.

Bonzje hāt die Ferd' verhalten!

Der Gerateweter is' gewesen a Jüd, a Balzdoke, un' hāt Bonzjen die
Tōwe nischt vergessen.

Er hāt ihm dem Gehargenten's Kelnje übergegeben; Bonzje is' a
Schmeisser gewor'en! Noch mehr,--er hāt ihm Chassene gemacht, noch
mehr,--er hāt ihm afile mit a Kind versorgt,--un' Bonzje hāt alls
geschwiegen!

--Mich mēint män, mich! befestigt sich Bonzje in der Deje, un' hāt
sich die Hose nischt, an Äug' zu warfen auf'n
Bess-din-schel-majle....

Er hört sich weiter ein zum Malech-meeliz:

"He did not ask loud for his pay. Like a mendicant he stood at the door with a doglike prayer in his eyes. 'Come later!' and he disappeared quietly like a shadow, in order to ask later still more quietly for his dues!

* * * * *

"He was silent even when they knocked off something from his pay, or paid him in a counterfeit coin ... he was silent...."

"It seems they really mean me!" Bontsie consoles himself.

* * * * *

"Once," proceeds the Advocate, after taking a drink of water, "there came a change in his life ... a coach with rubber wheels and frightened horses rushed by ... the driver lay way back on the pavement with his head split open ... foam spurted from the mouths of the frightened horses, and sparks flew from under their feet, as from a locomotive; their eyes sparkled like glowing coals in a dark night,--and in the coach there was sitting, more dead than alive, a man!

* * * * *

"Bontsie stopped the runaway.

"The person thus saved was a Jew, a charitable man, and he did not forget Bontsie's kindness.

"He transferred to him the seat of the killed man; Bontsie became a driver! More than that,--he got him married; still more, he provided him with a child ... and Bontsie kept silent all the time!"

* * * * *

"They mean me, they mean me!" Bontsie strengthens himself in his belief, and he has no courage to raise his eyes on the Supreme Judge.

He listens again to the Advocate.

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile, wenn sein Baltōwe hāt in Kurzen
bankrottirt un' ihm sein S-chires äuch.... Er hāt geschwiegen
afile, wenn dās Weib is' ihm entloffen un' übergelāst ihm a Kind
vun der Brust....

Er hāt geschwiegen afile mit fufzehn Jāhr später, wenn dās Kind is'
aufgewachsen un' genug stark gewesen,--Bonzjen arauszuwarfen vun
Stub'....

--Mich mēint män, mich! frēut sich Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Er hāt afile geschwiegen, hēbt ān wēicher un' traueriger der
Malech-meeliz, wenn der ēigener Baltōwe hāt sich mit Alle
ausgegleicht, nor ihm kēin Groschen S-chires nischt
zurückgegeben,--un' afile demelt, wenn er is' Bonzjen (weiter
fāhrendig auf a Kotsch mit gummene Räder un' Ferd' wie Loeben)
übergefāhren....

--Er hāt alls geschwiegen! Er hāt afile der Polizēi nischt gesāgt,
wer es hāt ihm zurecht gemacht....

* * * * *

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile in Spital, wu män mäg schōn schreien!

Er hāt geschwiegen afile, wenn der Doktor hāt ohn' fufzehn Kop.
nischt gewollt zu'n ihm zugēhn, un' der Wächter ohn' fünf
Kop.--tauschen die Wäsch'!

Er hāt geschwiegen beim Gōssen, er hāt geschwiegen in der letzter
Rege, beim Starben....

Kēin Wort gegen Gott, kēin Wort gegen Leut'! Dixi!

* * * * *

Bonzje hēbt ān weiter zu zittern auf'n ganzen Leib. Er wēisst, as
nāch'n Meeliz-jōscher gēht der Katēgor. Wer wēisst, wās der wet
sāgen? Er allēin hāt sein ganz Leben nischt gedenkt, noch auf jener
Welt hāt er jede Minut die früherdige vergessen ... der
Meeliz-jōscher

"He was silent even when his benefactor became bankrupt and did not pay him his wages.... He was silent even when his wife ran away and left him with a nursing babe....

"He was silent even fifteen years later when the child grew up, and was strong enough to throw Bontsie out of doors...."

"They mean me, they mean me!" Bontsie says joyfully.

"He was silent," the Advocate begins again with a softer and sadder voice, "when his benefactor resumed business, but did not pay him a cent, and even then, when he ran over him, again riding in a carriage with rubber tires, and horses like lions.

* * * * *

"He was all that time silent! He did not even tell the police who had maimed him so.

* * * * *

"He was silent even in the hospital, where one may cry!

"He was silent even when the doctor would not come to him unless he was paid fifteen kopeks, and the janitor would not change his shirt without five kopeks!

"He was silent during the last moments of his life, he was silent in his death agony....

"Not a word against God, not a word against man! Dixi!"

* * * * *

Bontsie begins again to tremble in his whole body. He knows that after the Advocate comes the Prosecuting Attorney. Who knows what he will say? He himself had never, during his whole life, preserved the memory of anything ... in the other world, he forgot

hāt ihm All's dermāhnt ... wer wēisst, wās der Katēgor wet ihm
dermāhnen!

* * * * *

--Rabōssai! hēbt ān a scharf-stichedig, brühendig Kol--

Nor er hackt āb--

--Rabōssai! hēbt er noch a Māl ān, nor wēicher un' hackt weiter āb.

Endlich hört sich, vun dem ēigenem Hals araus, a wēich Kol, wie a
Putter:

--Rabōssai! Er hāt geschwiegen! Ich will äuch schweigen!

Es werd still, un' vun vorent hört sich a neue wēiche, zitterdige
Stimme:

--Bonzje, mein Kind Bonzje! ruft es wie a Harfe.... Mein harzig
Kind Bonzje! In Bonzjen zuwēint sich dās Harz ... er wollt' schōn
die Äugen geöffent, nor see senen verfinstert vun Trähren.... Es
is' ihm asō süss-wēinendig kēin Māl nischt gewesen.... "Mein Kind,"
"Mein Bonzje,"--seit die Mutter is' gestorben, hāt er asa Kol un'
asōne Wörter nischt gehört--

--Mein Kind! führt weiter der Ow-bess-din,--du hāst alls gelitten
un' geschwiegen! Es is' nischt dā kein ganz Eewer, kēin ganz
Bēindel in dein Leib ohn' a Rane, ohn' a blutig Ort, es is' nischt
dā kēin ēin behalten Ort in dein Neschome, wu es soll nischt bluten
... un' du hāst alls geschwiegen....

Dort hāt män sich nischt verstan'en derauf! Du allēin hāst gār
efscher nischt gewusst, as du kännst schreien un' vun dein Geschrēi
können Jereecho's Mauern zittern un' einfallen! Du allēin hāst vun
dein verschlāfenem Kōach nischt gewusst....

Auf jener Welt hāt män dein Schweigen nischt

every moment the previous ... the Advocate brought back so many recollections ... who knows what the Prosecuting Attorney will remind him of?

"Judges!" he begins with a sharp, stinging voice--

* * * * *

But he stops short.

"Judges!" he begins once more, but more softly, and he interrupts himself again.

At last there issues from the same throat a voice as soft as butter:

"Judges! He has been silent! I shall be silent too!"

All is still, and in front a new soft, trembling voice is heard:

"Bontsie, my child Bontsie!" Bontsie's heart is dissolved in tears ... he would have opened his eyes, but they are covered with tears ... he has never wept such sweet tears before.... "My child," "My Bontsie!"--ever since his mother had died, he had not heard such a voice and such words.

* * * * *

"My child!" the Highest Judge proceeds, "you have suffered all, and you were silent! There is not a member, not a bone in your body without wounds, without a spot of blood. There is not a hidden place in your soul where it does not bleed, and yet you were always silent....

"There they did not understand such things! It may be you yourself did not know that you can cry and that from your cries the walls of Jericho could tremble and fall! You yourself did not know of your hidden power....

"They did not reward your silence in the other

belōhnt, nor dort is' der Ōlem-hascheker, dā auf'n Ōlem-emes west
du dein Lōb bekummen!

Dich wet dās Bess-din-schel-majle nischt mischpeten, dir wet es
nischt paskenen, dir wet es kēin Cheelek nischt aus-un' nischt
āb-thēilen! Nemm dir, wās du willst! Alles is' dein!

Bonzje hēbt dās erste Māl die Äugen auf! Er werd wie verblend't vun
der Licht vun alle Seiten; Alles blankt, Alles blischtschet, vun
Alles jāgen Strahlen: vun die Wänd', vun die Keelim, vun die
Malochim, vun die Dajonim! Ssame Sunnen!

Er lāst die müde Äugen arāb.

--Take? frägt er messupek un' verschämt.

--Sicher! entfert fest der Ow-bess-din! Sicher, sāg' ich dir, as
Alles is' dein, Alles in Himmel gehör' zu dir! Klaub' un' nemm, wās
du willst, du nemmst nor bei dir allēin!

--Take? frägt Bonzje noch a Māl, nor schōn mit a sicheren Kol.

--Take! Take! Take! entfert män ihm auf sicher vun alle Seiten.

--Nu, ōb asō, schmēichelt Bonzje, will ich take alle Tāg' in der
Früh' a hēisse Bulke mit frischer Putter!

Dajonim un' Malochim hāben arābgelāst die Köpp' verschämt. Der
Katēgor hāt sich zulacht.

J. L. PEREZ.

world, but that was the World of Delusion; here, in the World of Truth, you will receive your reward!

"The Supreme Court shall not pass sentence against you! It will not weigh and dole out your part to you. Take what you wish,--all is yours!"

* * * * *

Bontsie lifts his eyes for the first time! He is dazed by the light on all sides: everything sparkles, everything flashes, beams issue everywhere: from the walls, from the vessels, from the angels, from the judges! Nothing but suns around him!

He wearily droops his eyes.

"Really?" he asks doubtfully and abashed.

"Indeed!" answers the Highest Judge. "Indeed, I tell you--all is yours! All in Heaven belongs to you! Choose and take what you wish! You take your own."

* * * * *

"Really?" asks Bontsie once more, but in a firmer voice.

"Really, really, really!" they answer him on all sides.

"Well, if so," Bontsie smiles, "I should like to have every morning a hot roll with fresh butter!"

Judges and angels drooped their heads abashed. The Prosecuting Attorney laughed out loud.

I. APPENDIX

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(This Bibliography is a partial list of the works consulted in the
preparation of the present book. Those marked with an asterisk are
not in the Harvard Library; the others were formerly in my private
possession, together with a large number (1800 titles in all) not
given here. They now form in the Harvard Library the nucleus of a
Judeo-German collection, the largest in America. For an additional
list of newspapers, see Ch. D. Lippe, _Bibliographisches Lexicon
der gesammten jüdischen Literatur der Gegenwart_, Vienna, 1881, pp.
666, 667.)