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Mordecai was a thin, pale-faced, brown-bearded man of forty or thereabouts, with shoulders stooping as though under a weight of care; perhaps, though, it was from the sedentary life he led, teaching unruly children the elements of Hebrew and religion. He had resided in Togarog for fourteen years, ever since he had married Leah, the daughter of Reb Bensef of Kief.
We spent the night in prayer and lamentations. In every house the inhabitants put on mourning, for whatever might befall the children, to their parents they were irretrievably lost." "Poor papa! poor mamma!" murmured Mendel, wiping away a tear. "On the following morning," continued Bensef; "all the male Jehudim went to Alexandrovsk and implored an audience of the Governor.
The Rabbi promised, and, having reached the Jewish quarter, pupil and teacher parted for their respective homes. It was just a week since Mendel and the Rabbi had walked out together. Hirsch Bensef rushed with gigantic strides up the street leading to his house, and long before he reached his door he shouted, at the top of his voice: "Miriam! Miriam! I have news for you!"
We have seen how Mordecai Winenki perished, a victim of the infuriated mob. His wife, Leah, died a short time afterward, broken-hearted at the separation from her life-long companion. Hirsch Bensef and his wife declared they were too old to brave the rigors of a journey to America, and, though broken in spirit as well as in fortune, they preferred to remain in Kief.
They will take our money, make a few magical incantations, prescribe a useless drug, and leave their patient to the mercy of Fate." Hirsch Bensef was right. At the time of which we speak, medicine could scarcely be classed among the sciences in Russia, and if we accept the statement of modern travellers, the situation is not much improved at the present day.
"Tell us about it, Itzig," they clamored. "How is it possible that you could do it?" But Itzig waved them back and not until Hirsch Bensef came out from the sick chamber did he deign to speak. Then his tongue became loosened, and to the awe and amazement of his listeners he related his wonderful adventures.
"Poor child, poor child," said the father, soothingly, "Have patience. In a few days you will be about again." "Is uncle here? I want to see uncle," cried the boy. Hirsch Bensef obeyed the call, and, going to the sufferer, kissed his burning brow. "Why, Jacob; how is this?" he said. "I did not know that you were sick. What is the trouble, my lad?"
Those Israelites who soonest adopt the customs of their new country soonest enjoy the benefits which a free and liberty-loving nation offers." Hirsch Bensef shook his head, doubtingly. "Then you mean to imply that it becomes necessary to abolish those usages in which one's heart and soul are wrapped!" he said. "Not at all," answered the American.
But even had Miriam favored his advances, her father, one of the most pious men of Kief, would have dispelled all hope of an alliance between the two. Old Reb Kohn, after endeavoring in vain to bring the reprobate to his senses, finally forbade him the house. Shortly after, the betrothal of Miriam Kohn with the learned and wealthy Hirsch Bensef was announced.
For an hour the soldiers allowed the work of destruction to go on unhindered, and then, no longer able to control their appetites, they joined the mob. The rioters came to the house of Hirsch Bensef. "He is the richest of them all," shouted a Russian, who had once been employed by him. "His house is a regular mine of wealth. I've been in it." "Down with the house!" shouted the mob.
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