MRS. LEZINSKY [_derisively_]. One dollar you say! And for the lady's
coat?
LEZINSKY. A couple of dollars, anyway.
MRS. LEZINSKY. A couple of dollars anyway! And he thinks he does good
business when he charges a couple of dollars anyway. And for that, my
cousin, Morris Schapiro charges three dollars each. A couple of dollars!
Your children will be left without bread. [_He mutters phrases from the
Torah._] You hear me, Solly? [_He goes on with his prayers._] Prayers
are what he answers me. Soon you pray in the streets.
LEZINSKY. Woe is me! Woe is me!
MRS. LEZINSKY. Could he even answer me? Yes, if it was roast goose I was
asking for or black satin for a decent _Shabbos_ dress. But no!
[_Satirically._] Maybe you even get roast goose from your learning....
Yes--on account of your praying we all have to go a begging yet.
LEZINSKY. To-morrow is _Rosch Hoschana_, Gietel.
MRS. LEZINSKY. Does _Rosch Hoschana_ mean a roast goose by us? Does it
even mean a baby-carriage what costs five dollars?
LEZINSKY. Roast goose and baby-carriage! You have no pious thoughts....
Go away.... My head swims.
MRS. LEZINSKY. That comes by fasting. Don't you fast enough every day?
LEZINSKY. She comes now to roast goose again.
MRS. LEZINSKY. What should I care for roast goose? _Rosch Hoschana_
comes next year again. But the baby-carriage--it never comes again.
LEZINSKY. Baby-carriage! Baby-carriage! When you should fast and
pray....
MRS. LEZINSKY. What! Should I fast and give our David and Julius and
Benny a shadow--maybe--for a little sister?... But--yes--I fast, too ...
that--even--for such a baby carriage. O, Solly--that much we all do--for
our little Eileen.
LEZINSKY [_wearily, putting his hands to his eyes_]. All right. How much
money have you got there--Gietel?
MRS. LEZINSKY [_sweetly_]. Now call me Goldie, Solly, so I know you
ain't mad.
LEZINSKY. Yes, yes.
MRS. LEZINSKY. Goldie--say it--Solly leben--Go on--count it--Goldie.
[_She takes the money out and they count it together._]
MR. AND MRS. LEZINSKY [_together_]. One.... [_Counting out
another dollar bill_]--Two.... [_Counting out a third dollar
bill_]--Three.... [_Counting out a two-dollar bill_]--Five dollars....
[_Another two-dollar bill_]--Seven dollars.... [_A ten-dollar
bill_]--Seventeen.... [_Another ten-dollar bill_]--Twenty-seven....
[_The last ten-dollar bill_]--Thirty-seven.
LEZINSKY. Thirty-seven dollars in all--the rent and the gas!
MRS. LEZINSKY. And a little over, Solly, to pay on the baby carriage.
LEZINSKY. And to-morrow _Rosch Hoschana_. Shall we starve the children
on Rosch Hoschana?
MRS. LEZINSKY. They could go a little hungry once for their little
sister, Eileen.
LEZINSKY. Don't be too sure, Goldie, maybe another boy comes.
MRS. LEZINSKY. Well, even if--it needs the fresh air, too.
LEZINSKY [_firmly after a moment's thought_]. No, Goldie, it couldn't be
done. In the spring we buy a baby-carriage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account