"_Oi!_ Mrs. Pelz; if you could only look into my heart! I'm so choked up! You know they say, a cow has a long tongue, but can't talk." Hanneh Breineh shook her head wistfully, and her eyes filmed with inward brooding. "My children give me everything from the best. When I was sick, they got me a nurse by day and one by night. They bought me the best wine. If I asked for dove's milk, they would buy it for me; but--but--I can't talk myself out in their language. They want to make me over for an American lady, and I'm different." Tears cut their way under her eyelids with a pricking pain as she went on: "When I was poor, I was free, and could holler and do what I like in my own house. Here I got to lie still like a mouse under a broom. Between living up to my Fifth Avenue daughter and keeping up with the servants I am like a sinner in the next world that is thrown from one hell to another." The door-bell rang, and Hanneh Breineh jumped up with a start. "_Oi weh!_ it must be the servant back already!" she exclaimed as she tore off her apron. "_Oi weh!_ let's quickly put the dishes together in a dish-pan. If she sees I eat on the kitchen table, she will look on me like the dirt under her feet." Mrs. Pelz seized her shawl in haste. "I better run home quick in my rags before your servant sees me." "I'll speak to Abe about the job," said Hanneh Breineh as she pushed a bill into the hand of Mrs. Pelz, who edged out as the servant entered. * * * "I'm having fried potato _lotkes_ special for you, Benny," said Hanneh Breineh as the children gathered about the table for the family dinner given in honor of Benny's success with his new play. "Do you remember how you used to lick the fingers from them?" "O Mother!" reproved Fanny. "Anyone hearing you would think we were still in the push-cart district." "Stop your nagging, Sis, and let ma alone," commanded Benny, patting his mother's arm affectionately. "I'm home only once a month. Let her feed me what she pleases. My stomach is bomb-proof." "Do I hear that the President is coming to your play?" said Abe as he stuffed a napkin over his diamond-studded shirt-front. "Why shouldn't he come?" returned Benny. "The critics say it's the greatest antidote for the race hatred created by the war. If you want to know, he is coming to-night; and what's more, our box is next to the President's." "_Nu_, Mammeh," sallied Jake, "did you ever dream in Delancey Street that we should rub sleeves with the President?" "I always said that Benny had more head than the rest of you," replied the mother. As the laughter died away, Jake went on: "Honor you are getting plenty; but how much _mezummen_ does this play bring you? Can I invest any of it in real estate for you?" "I'm getting ten per cent. royalties of the gross receipts," replied the youthful playwright. "How much is that?" queried Hanneh Breineh. "Enough to buy up all your fish markets in Delancey Street," laughed Abe in good-natured raillery at his mother.