THE GOD OF VENGEANCE
Let them know that I'm celebrating today. . . Never mind. I can well afford it.
A Woman, Blind in One Eye, praising Yekel and Sarah before her poor neighbors.
This is a house for you, such luck may I have. Nobody ever leaves this place empty-handed. There's always a plate of soup for the sick, a shirt for a poor fellow. What then? Do you think you can get anything over there where the proud purses live?[1] (Sarah, as if not hearing the woman's words, throws into the apron of the latter a few more portions of food. The old woman holds up her apron and continues to talk.) Whenever there's a celebration here. . . whoever you are. . . however humble your trade. . .
Other Poor Folks, among themselves.
That's so. May we know such luck. . . May such good fortune be ours! . .
Yekel, takes out a handful of small change and casts it into Rifkele's apron.
Here, divide this among the poor folks. (Rifkele distributes the money.)
The Blind Woman, now enthusiastic, pointing to Rifkele.
And show me, in the whole town, another girl as respectable as she! . . . (To the other women.) Why, Rabbis haven't such virtuous
- ↑ Literally, 'under the high windows.'
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