Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto

RSKY's CO

ctions as well as canvassing for new customers. When Gitl came in to unburden herself of Fanny's revelations, she found her confidante out of sorts. Something had gone wrong in Mrs. Kavarsky's

ded and paused for her opinion, she remarked languidly: "It serves you right! It is all becuss

rlornly. "The Uppermost knows what drug she has charmed him wit

sky lost h

vagely. "No wonder your husband does not care for you

me, little heart, little crown, do tell me! Take pity and be a mot

ckhead? Oi! Oi! Oi!" she mocked her. "Will

It may drive me mad. I won't wear the kerchief any more.

?" The last two names Mrs. Kavarsky invented by poetical license to complete the rhyme and for the greater emphasis of her contempt. "In the second place, asposel [supposing] he did talk to that Polish piece of disturbance. Vell, what of it? It is all over with

my side, and never ceased looking into my eyes. Woe is me, what America

rs. Kavarsk

she said, affectionately. "Believe me you are makin

say or do; he can not bear the touch of my hand. America has made a mountain of ashes out of me. Really, a

r pupil, in whispers, upon certain details, and thereupon her interest in

d the boy?" she absently inqu

were as ki

ou shall see. Remember that Mrs. Kavarsky has told you so. And in the meantime stop crying. A husband hates a sniveller for a wife. You know the story of Jacob and Leah,

nspiration. At the next instant she made a lunge at Gitl's head, and off went the ker

I say!" the other shrieked, her eyes flashi

sky said peremptorily: "You shall wash off your silly tears and I'll arrang

d her weapon rather energetically and with a bloodthirsty air, as if inflicting punishment. And while she was thus attacking Gitl's luxurious raven locks she kept growling, as glibly as the progress of the comb would allow, and modulating her voice to its movements: "Believe me you are a lump of hunchback, sure; you may-may depend up-upon it! T

with delight, but she

ne. At the sight of this Gitl's blood ran chill, and when the scissors gave their first click in her hair she felt as though her heart snapped. Nev

of the mirror, and ordered to hail the transformation with joy. She viewed herself with an unsteady glance, as if

" she inquired with piteous eagerness

efund your money!" her gua

hen, in a sudden transport of enthusiasm, she sprang upon her ward, and wi

s. Kavarsky grasped Gitl by the wrist, and for

e with Joey. He was seated at the table, f

sky said, pointing at her charge, who stood faintly struggling to disengage her hand fro

Jake as something unseemly and meretr

, choking down a much stronger simile which would have conveyed his impres

r side and to greet her merrily; but he, too, was shocked by the change in her a

ve way to a stream of tears. Then she made a few steps toward Jake, and speaking in an undertone she proceeded to take him to task. "Another man would consider himself happy to have such a w

protested morosely, cursin

ou may ask my husband. Really you ought to be ashamed of yourself. A prohibition upon me if I could ever have believed it of you. Do you think a stylish girl would make you a better wife? If you do, you are grievously mistaken. What are they good for, the hussie

ingenious, and, egged on by the dogged silenc

rd, and shaking her whole body with melodramatic defiance,

th a distant gaze. "Who says I care for a danshin'-shchool girl?" he bellowed, as he let dow

ow stood watching his father with a stare in

ake's strapping figure. "Who? What? When? I did not mean anything at all, sure. Gitl never said a word to me. A prohibition if she did. Come, Mr. Podkovnik, why should you get ek

anshin' girls?" he thundered again, re-enforcing the ejaculation with an

s heard from the bedroom. They las

Alla right, I do hate her; I can not bear the sight

k of a sma't man like y

nly"-pointing to the bedroom. "I am an American feller, a Yankee-that's what I am. What punishment is due to me, then, if I can not stand a shnooza like her? It is nu ushed; I can not live with her, even if she stand o

of her retreat, her bangs dishevelled, her face stained and flushed with

ounds as long as you will have to wait for a divorce!" she exploded. "He thinks

show of pugnacit

le. "Such a piece of cholera!" he added, as if speaking to himself

to a fresh fl

essing herself to her. "He says it is a lie. I told yo

a lie!" Gitl answe

nding Jake's feelings, she took the child in her arms, and huddling him close to her bosom, she half turned from her husband, as much as to say, "We two are making common cause against you." Jake was cut to the quick. He kept his glance fixed

a good kiss and dot's ull! Hurry yup, Mr. Podkovnik! Don't be ashamed!" she beckoned to him, her countenance wreathed in voluptuous smiles in anticipation of the love scene about to enact itself before her eyes. Mr.

red out, in English. "Min' jou on businesh an' do

rew as red as a

must think I, too, can be scared by his English. I declare my shirt has turned linen for fr

house or not?" roared J

you, for fear you might kill her and the boy, so that you might dawdle around with that Polish wench of yours. Here you have it!" Saying which, she put her thumb betw

"Alla right, you may remain with her!" he said, rushing up to the clothes rack, and slipping on his coat and hat.

e he was going to pass the night. It was too cold to be tramping about till it was time to go to work, and he had not change enough to pay for a night's rest in a lodging house; so in his despair he fulminated against Gitl and, above all, against her tutoress. Having passed as far as the limits of the Ghetto he took a homeward course by a parallel street, knowing all the while that he would lack the courage to enter his house. When he came within sight of it he again turned back, yearningly thinking of the cosey little home behind him, and

e not be sorry to have him disappear? Can it be that she does not care for him any longer? She seemed to. But that was before she knew him to be a married man. And again his heart uttered curses against Gitl. Ah, if Mamie did still care for him, and fainted upon hearing of his flight, and then could not sleep, and ran around wringing her hands and raving like mad! It would serve her right, too! She should have come to tell him she loved him instead

to send her every cent from London. And while he was perfectly aware that he had neither the money to take him across the Atlantic nor the heart to forsake Gitl and Joey, and that Mamie would never let him leave New York without paying her twenty-five dollars, he started out on a run