'I have the honour now to thank You for Your kind answer of my
letter. I did not succeed here by my vital experience in the
last of ten years. I got my livelihood a certain time by my
dental practice so long there was not a hard violent
competition, then I had never any efficacious relief,
protection, then I have no relation, then we and the time are
changeable too, then without money is impossible to perform
any matter, if I had at present in my grieved desperate
position L4 for my restaurant, then I were rescued. I do not
earn anything, and I must despond at last, I perish here, in
Russia I was ruined, please to aid me in Your merciful
humanity by something, if I had L15 I could start off from
here to go somewhere to look for my daily bread, and if I had
L30 so I shall go to Jerusalem because I am convinced by my
bitter and sour troubles and shocking tribulations here is
nothing to do any more for me. I have not been in the
Russo-Jewish fund and do not know it where it is, and if it is
in the Jewish shelter of Leman Street so I have no protection,
no introduction, no recommendation for it. Poverty has very
seldom a few clement humane good people and little friends.
The people say Jacobs the dentist of Mansel Place is not a
good man, and so it is I tried it for he makes the impossible
competition. I ask Your good genteel cordial nobility
according to the universal good reputation of Your gracious
goodness to reply me quick by some help now.
'Your obedient Servant respectfully,
'NEHEMIAH SILVERMANN,
'_Dentist and Restaurateur._'
This letter threw a new but not reassuring light upon the situation.
Instead of being a victim of the Russian troubles, a recent refugee
from massacre and robbery, Nehemiah had already existed in London for
ten years, and although he might originally have been ruined by
Russia, he had survived his ruin by a decade. His ideas of his future
seemed as hazy as his past. Four pounds would be a very present help;
he could continue his London career. With fifteen pounds he was ready
to start off anywhither. With thirty pounds he would end all his
troubles in Jerusalem. Such nebulousness appeared to necessitate a
personal visit, and the next day, finding himself in bad form,
Barstein angrily bashed in a clay visage, clapped on his hat, and
repaired to the Minories. But he looked in vain for either a dentist
or a restaurant at No. 3A. It appeared a humble corner residence,
trying to edge itself into the important street. At last, after
wandering uncertainly up and down, he knocked at the shabby door. A
frowsy woman with long earrings opened it staring, and said that the
Silvermanns occupied two rooms on her second floor.
'What!' cried Barstein. 'Is he married?'
'I should hope so,' replied the landlady severely. 'He has eleven
children at least.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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