Three Passover Tales by Sholem Aleichem

Author:Sholem Aleichem
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steven Capsuto - Books & Translation Services

XII

AND NACHMAN Verebivker is not at home. Early this morning, he took his stick and set out to walk through the village to do business. He stops in front of each yard. He says good morning to every Gentile, calling them all by name, and talks with them about everything in the world except the Passover incident . . . except the Passover terror . . . And before moving on to the next home, he touches the cart and says, “Do you perhaps have something laying around that you don’t need anymore?” “Nothing, Lachman.” “Scrap iron, a little millet, any old thing, even a pelt?” “I’m sorry, Lachman, but there’s nothing. These are hard times.” “Hard times? Did you drink everything up maybe? Such a holiday!” “What drinking? What holiday? These are hard times!”

The Gentile sighs and Nachman sighs too. And then they chat about other things for a while, so it is not obvious that this was just a business call. And he goes from this Gentile to another and to a third, until he finds something to buy, so he won’t come home empty-handed.

And Nachman Verebivker, loaded down and sweating, strides home on his giant legs with only one thought on his mind: how much will he earn or lose today? The Passover Eve incident is forgotten. The Passover terror is forgotten. And his neighbor Kuretsha, with his governors and his edicts, is nowhere in his thoughts. Nachman doesn’t give a damn about him! . . .

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