The sun shines in a wide, blue sky. The little grasses are springing up through the mould, and one can distinctly see the angel who stands beside each blade, and cries: grow, grow! Little birds fly about in flocks, looking for last year's nests, and Reb Shachneh says to Reb Zerach: "A Kotzker, you see, I mean a real Kotzker--the present ones don't count--never thought much of the Haggadah."[112] "But only of the dumplings?" smiles Reb Zerach. "Never mind about the dumplings!" answers Reb Shachneh, gravely, "and don't laugh. You know the meaning of 'thou shalt not deliver up a slave to his master?'" "For me," says the Belzer with humble pride, "it is enough to know the hidden meaning of the prayers!" Reb Shachneh pretends not to have heard, and continues: "The literal interpretation is simple enough: If a slave, or a servant, or a serf, run away, one may not, according to the Law, catch him, bind him, and give him up to his master--it is evident, if a man runs away, his very life was endangered. But the hidden meaning is also quite clear: the body here below is a slave--it is the servant of the soul. The body is sinful, it sees a piece of pork, an idol, a woman, what not, and is ready to jump out of its skin. But when the soul says, thou shalt not! it must desist. "On the other hand, suppose the soul desires to perform a religious act. The body must be up and doing, however tired and harassed. The hands must work, the feet must run, the lips move--and why? The soul, the lord, commands! And therefore it is written: 'Thou shalt not deliver up!' "The body may not be handed over unconditionally to the soul. The fiery soul would speedily burn it to ashes. Had the Creator wished for souls without bodies, he would not have made the world. "The body also has its rights. 'He who fasts much is a sinner.' The body must eat. He who would ride must feed his horse! Comes a feast, a holiday--be merry, too! Take a sip of brandy, rejoice, body, likewise! And the soul rejoices and the body rejoices--the soul in the benediction, and the body in the glass! "Passover, the season of our deliverance--here, body, catch a dumpling! And it is inspirited and cheered, and rejoices to fulfil the commandment. "Farewell, dumpling! Brother, do not laugh." Reb Zerach opines that the matter is a deep one and worth consideration; but he himself does not eat Sheruyah?[113] "Do you _enjoy_ Passover cakes dry?" "For dessert?" smiles Reb Zerach. "And where are my teeth to eat them with?" "How then do you observe the precept: 'And thou shalt rejoice in thy feasts,' as regards the body?" "All sorts of ways. If it likes currant wine--well and good. I myself revel in the Haggadah. I sit and repeat and count the plagues, and count and double them and multiply." "Materialism!"