The King of Schnorrers: Grotesques and Fantasies — John Shaqi
The King of Schnorrers: Grotesques and FantasiesZangwill, Israel
General
The King of Schnorrers: Grotesques and Fantasies
Zangwill, Israel
Humorous stories; Jewish fiction; Jews -- England -- Fiction; London (England) -- Fiction
"Not all," maintained the _Schnorrer_. "What of de six guineas I make
by carrying round de Palm-branch on Tabernacles to be shaken by de
voomans who cannot attend Synagogue, and by blowing de trumpet for de
same voomans on New Year, so dat dey may break deir fasts?"
"The amount is too small to deserve discussion. Pass on."
"Dere is a smaller amount--just half dat--I get from de presents to de
poor at de Feast of Lots, and from de Bridegrooms of de Beginning and
de Bridegrooms of de Law at de Rejoicing of de Law, and dere is about
four pounds ten a year from de sale of clothes given to me. Den I have
a lot o' meals given me--dis, I have reckoned, is as good as seven
pounds. And, lastly, I cannot count de odds and ends under ten
guineas. You know dere are alvays legacies, gifts, distributions--all
unexpected. You never know who'll break out next."
"Yes, I think it's not too high a percentage of your income to expect
from unexpected sources," admitted Manasseh. "I have myself lingered
about 'Change Alley or Sampson's Coffee House just when the jobbers
have pulled off a special coup, and they have paid me quite a high
percentage on their profits."
"And I," boasted Yankelé, stung to noble emulation, "have made two
sov'rans in von minute out of Gideon de bullion-broker. He likes to
give _Schnorrers_ sov'rans, as if in mistake for shillings, to see vat
dey'll do. De fools hurry off, or move slowly avay, as if not
noticing, or put it quickly in de pocket. But dose who have visdom
tell him he's made a mistake, and he gives dem anoder sov'ran. Honesty
is de best policy with Gideon. Den dere is Rabbi de Falk, de Baal
Shem--de great Cabbalist. Ven--"
"But," interrupted Manasseh impatiently, "you haven't made out your
hundred and fifty a year."
Yankelé's face fell. "Not if you cut out so many items."
"No, but even all inclusive it only comes to a hundred and forty-three
pounds nineteen shillings."
"Nonsense!" said Yankelé, staggered. "How can you know so exact?"
"Do you think I cannot do simple addition?" responded Manasseh
sternly. "Are not these your ten items?"
£ s. d.
1. Synagogue Pension, with Passover extras 8 0 0
2. Synagogue-knocking 10 10 0
3. District Visiting 65 0 0
4. As Congregation-man and Pyx-bearer 14 0 0
5. Year-Times 15 0 0
6. Palm-branch and Trumpet Fees 6 6 0
7. Purim-presents, &c. 3 3 0
8. Sale of Clothes 4 10 0
9. Equivalent of Free Meals 7 0 0
10. Miscellanea, the unexpected 10 10 0
Total £143 19 0
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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