THE KING OF SCHNORRERS. 73
pounds. Our colony is, as you say, too new. De Globe Road Cemetery is as empty as a Synagogue on veek-days. De faders have left deir faders on de Continent, and kept many Year-Times out of de country. But in a few years many faders and moders must die off here, and every parent leaves two or tree sons to have Year-Times, and every child two or tree broders and a fader. Den every day more German Jews come here — vich means more and more to die. I tink indeed it vould be fair to double this item."
" No, no ; stick to facts. It is an iniquity to speculate in the misfortunes of our fellow-creatures."
" Somebody must die dat I may live," retorted Yankele roguishly ; " de vorld is so created. Did you not quote, ' Charity delivers from death ' ? If people lived for ever, Schnorrers could not live at all."
" Hush ! The world could not exist without ScJuiorrers. As it is written, ' And Repentance and Prayer and Charity avert the evil decree.' Charity is put last — it is the climax — the greatest thing on earth. And the Schnorrer is the greatest man on earth ; for it stands in the Talmud, ' He who causes is greater than he who does.' Therefore, the ScJinorrer who causes charity is even greater than he who gives it."
"Talk of de devil," said Yankele, who had much difficulty in keeping his countenance when Manasseh became mag- nificent and dithyrambic. " Vy, dere is Greenbaum, whose fader vas buried yesterday. Let us cross over by accident and vish him long life."
" Greenbaum dead ! Was that the Greenbaum on 'Change, who was such a rascal with the wenches?"
" De same," said Yankele Then approaching the son, he cried, " Good Sabbath, Mr. Greenbaum ; I vish you long life. Vat a blow for de community ! "
