Page:Yiddish Tales.djvu/428

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424 RAISIN

Selig smiled, "Foolish woman, she supposes I am afraid to die. When one leaves a Kaddish, death is a trifle."

Alterke was sitting playing with a prayer-book and imitating his father at prayer, "A num-num a num- num."

"Listen to him praying !" and Cheike turned delight- edly to her husband. "His soul is piously inclined !"

Selig made no reply, he only gazed at his Kaddish with a beaming face. Then an idea came into his head : Alterke will be a Tzaddik, will help him out of all his difficulties in the other world.

"Mame, I want to eat !" wailed Alterke, suddenly.

He was given a piece of the white bread which was laid aside, for him only, every Sabbath.

Alterke began to eat.

"Who bringest forth! Who bringest forth!" called out Eeb Selig.

"Tan't !" answered the child.

"It is time you taught him to say grace," observed Cheike.

And Eeb Selig drew Alterke to him and began to repeat with him.

"Say:Boruch."

"Bo'uch," repeated the child after his fashion.

"Attoh."

"Attoh."

When Alterke had finished "Who bringest forth," Cheike answered piously Amen, and Eeb Selig saw Alterke, in imagination, standing in the synagogue and repeating Kaddish, and heard the congregation answer