The Stranger
Where are you? Come here, I'll put a little red ribbon on your neck.
Fraidele
I put it on him already.
The Old Woman
Now, come here. Sit down in my lap. I’ll put the red ribbon on you. What a very, very thin, little neck! But you’re already a marriageable girl! (She kisses her neck.) Oh, so sweet! So sweet! And a mother goes and dies and leaves such a child alone! Now wear it that way around your neck, pox and measles are going round in the villages.
Fraidele
Too bad papa went away.
The Old Woman
Is he away long?
Fraidele
No, not long. If you’ll stay over night with us he’ll be back before dark.
The Old Woman (taking a little linen bag out of the sack)
Been to a Rejoicing—good people gave it to me. Hold out your hands and I’ll pour some into them. Nu—you know what that is?
Fraidele
The dark ones are raisins and the other—what is it?
The Old Woman
Foolish little one. They’re almonds—real al-
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