"They did, and I was very much surprised."
"You will be more surprised when you hear that I rewarded with modern shekels the labours of the young rascals5 who would make our lives a torment6 to us."
"You gave them money!" exclaimed Rachel, in amazement7. "Is it possible you rewarded them for their bad work?"
"I threw among them seven penny pieces. Yes, yes, I rewarded them. Why not?"
"But why?"
"Ah, why, why? Had I thrown among them seven cannon8 balls they would scarcely have been more effective. The truth of this will be made manifest to our benefit before many days are gone, or Cohen is not my name. Wife of my soul, I went forth9, not with a lion's, but with a fox's skin. Have I not studied the law? Are not the Cohanim priests, and are not priests supposed to be men of intelligence and resource? We read in Proverbs, 'Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I have understanding, I have strength.' Rabbi Meyer says that the study of the law endows a man with sovereignty, dominion10, and ratiocination11. He is slow to anger, ready to forgive an injury, has a good heart, receives chastisement12 with resignation, loves virtue13, correction, and admonition. This, perhaps, is going a little too far, and is endowing a human being with qualities too transcendent; but it is true to a certain extent, and I have profited by the learned rabbi's words. Ill fitted should I be to engage in the battle of life if I were not able to cope with the young rascals who made the night hideous15 outside our door, and who, if I am not mistaken; will repeat their performance to-morrow evening at the same hour."
"They will come again!" cried Rachel, clasping her hands in despair.
"They will come again, and again, and yet again, and then--well, then we shall see what we shall see."
"You gave them money to-night," said Rachel, sadly, "and they will return for more."
"And they will return for more," said Aaron, with complacency. "At the present moment I should judge that they are engaged in a fierce contest. When that look comes into your face, my dear, it is an indication that I have said something you do not exactly understand. I threw to them seven apples of discord16, which the nimblest and the strongest seized and fled with. But each soldier conceived he had a right to at least one of the apples, and those who were left empty-handed laboured under a sense of wrong. They had been robbed by their comrades. After them they rushed to obtain their portion of the spoils of war. Then ensued a grand scrimmage in which noses have been injured and eyes discoloured. Even as we converse17 the battle is continued. I am not there, but I see the scene clearly with my mind's eye." He took a sovereign from his pocket, and regarded it contemplatively. "Ah, thou root of much evil and of much good, what have you not to answer for? What blessings18 is it not in your power to bestow19, what evil passions do you not bring into play? Rachel, my love, take heart of courage, and when you hear those boys shouting outside tomorrow night do not be alarmed. Trust in me; everything will come right in the end."
The scene which Aaron had drawn20 from his imagination was as near as possible to the truth. There had been a battle royal between the boys and girls for possession of the pennies; noses were put out of joint21, black eyes were given, words of injurious import exchanged, and much bad blood engendered22. The sevenpence for which they fought would have gone but a little way to pay for the repairs to the clothes which were torn and rent during the fray23. The end of it was that the robbers, after being kicked and cuffed24 ignominiously25, were not allowed to join in a compact made by the penniless, to the effect that they would assemble outside Aaron Cohen's shop to-morrow night and repeat the tactics which had been so well rewarded, and that all moneys received should be equally divided between the warriors26 engaged. One Ted14 Kite was appointed commander, to organise27 the expedition and to see fair play.
Accordingly, on Tuesday night a score or so of boys and girls presented themselves in front of the shop, and commenced shouting, "Jew! Jew! Jew!" the fugleman being Ted Kite, who proved himself well fitted for the task.
"There he is, there he is!" said the youngsters eagerly, as Aaron made his appearance on the doorstep; and, inspired by their captain, they continued to fire.
"Good children, good children," said Aaron, with good-humoured smiles, and continuing to smoke his silver-mounted pipe. "Very well done, very well done indeed!"
"Ain't he going to throw us nothink?" they asked each other anxiously, their greedy eyes watching Aaron's movements. They were kept rather long in suspense28, but at length Aaron's hand sought his pocket, and half a dozen pennies rattled29 on the stones. Despite their compact down they pounced30, and fought and scratched for them as on the previous night, the fortunate ones scudding31 away as on the first occasion, followed by their angry comrades. They were caught, and compelled to disgorge; the pennies were changed into farthings, and each soldier received one for his pay; the two or three that were left were spent in sweetstuff.
"What a game!" the children exclaimed, and appointed to meet on the following night to continue the pastime.
On this third night they were kept waiting still longer. Aaron Cohen did not make his appearance so quickly, and several minutes elapsed before the pennies were thrown to them. On the first night he had disbursed32 seven, on the second night six, on this third only four. There was the usual fighting for them, and the usual scampering33 away; but when the sum-total was placed in the hands of Ted Kite a great deal of dissatisfaction was expressed. Only fourpence! They doubted the correctness of the sum; they were sure that more had been thrown; one girl said she counted eight, and others supported her statement. Who had stolen the missing pennies? They quarrelled and fought again; they regarded each other with suspicion; doubts were thrown upon the honesty of the captain. Off went his coat instantly; off went the coats of other boys; the girls, having no coats to throw off, tucked up their sleeves; and presently six or seven couples were hitting, scratching, and kicking each other. Much personal damage was done, and more bad blood engendered. The warfare34 was not by any means of a heroic nature.
Nevertheless they assembled on the fourth night, and were kept waiting still longer before they were paid. Aaron did not show his liberality, however, until he had had a conference with the captain. His keen eyes had singled out Ted Kite, and he beckoned35 to him. Ted hesitated; he was only a small boy; Aaron Cohen was a big man, and in a personal contest could have disposed of him comfortably.
"Yah, yer coward!" cried the rank and file to their captain. "What are yer frightened at? What did we make yer captain for?"
Thus taunted36, Ted Kite ventured to approach the smiling foe37.
"Come a little nearer," said Aaron; "I am not going to hurt you. I wish you to do me a favour."
Ted, with a sidelong look over his shoulders at his army, as if appealing to it to rush to his rescue in case he was seized, shuffled38 forward. Aaron Cohen held out his hand; Ted Kite timidly responded, and was surprised at the friendly grip he received.
"You are the leader," said Aaron, in his most genial39 voice.
"Yes, Mr. Cohen," replied Ted, growing bold, "I'm the captain."
"Clever lad, clever captain! Here's a penny for you. Don't let them see you take it. It is for you alone. They will do as you tell them, of course."
"I'll let 'em know it if they don't."
"It's right you should. I think it is very kind of you to come here as you do, but I want you to oblige me and not come to-morrow night It is Friday, and the shop will be closed; so you would be wasting your time. That would be foolish, would it not?"
"Yes, it would," said Ted, somewhat bewildered. "Shall we come on Saturday night?"
"Certainly, if you think proper. Then you will not be here to-morrow?"
"We won't, as you'd rather not, Mr. Cohen."
"Thank you, I am really obliged to you. Now go and join your army."
Ted Kite turned away, walked a step or two, and returned.
"But I say, Mr. Cohen----"
"Well, my lad?"
"Do you like it?"
"Do I like it?" echoed Aaron, With a sly chuckle40. "Should I speak to you as I am doing if I didn't? I think it is very nice of you; very nice, very nice indeed!"
"Oh!" said Ted, in a crest-fallen tone. As Aaron took pleasure in the persecution41, it was not half such good fun as it had been. "He says he likes it," he said to his comrades, when he was among them.
"How much did he give yer?" they inquired, feeling as he did in respect of the fun of their proceedings42.
"He didn't give me nothink."
"We sor him hold out his hand to yer," they protested.
"You sor us shake hands, that's what yer saw. Let's get on with the game; we don't want to be kept waiting here all night."
They went on with the game, calling "Jew! Jew! Jew!" half-heartedly. Putting the pecuniary43 reward out of the question, it was a game that was becoming rather monotonous44. They had to call for quite a quarter of an hour before Aaron paid them; and this time he paid them with two pennies only. The children fell on the ground, and scraped the stones for more, but found none; and they retired45 grumbling46, discontented, and suspicious of each other's honesty.
On Friday night, the Sabbath eve, Aaron and Rachel had peace; and on Saturday night the children made their appearance again and gave forth their chorus. Aaron came to the door, and stood there, smoking his pipe, and smiling at them; but he did not throw any pennies to them. They did not know what to make of it. Their voices grew weaker and weaker, they wandered about discontentedly, they declared it was not fair on Mr. Cohen's part. "We'll try him agin on Monday night," they said.
They tried him again on Monday night, and he stood on his steps, commending them, but he gave them no more pennies. There was no heart whatever now in their invectives. They were not philosophers, and did, not know that the course Aaron had pursued had taken the sting out of their tails. "He likes it," they said to one another, as they strolled off moodily47, "and he wants us to come here and scream our throats dry without being paid for it. Well, we ain't going to do it. We won't call him Jew any more, if he wants us ever so much. It ain't likely, now, is it? What does he mean by treating us so shabby?" These young rapscallions thought the world was out of joint.
On this Monday night an incident occurred which never came to Aaron's ears. Prissy, hearing of the annoyance48 to which the Cohens were subjected, made her appearance as the boys were wandering disconsolately49 away, and without wasting time in asking questions, darted50 like a tiger-cat upon the biggest of them, and fixed51 her fingers in his hair. She had left Victoria Regina asleep on the coals in her aunt's shop, and had, so to speak, girded up her loins for the contest, by pinning up her ragged52 skirts and tucking up her sleeves to the shoulder. "What's that for?" cried the boy, struggling to get free. Prissy vouchsafed53 no explanation; the only words she uttered were addressed to the other boys. "Fair play. One at a time. I'm only a gal54." Chivalry55 was not dead. They stood round the combatants, and witnessed the fight without interfering56. It was a desperate encounter. Many an ugly blow did Prissy receive; but she depended upon her talons57, and pulled such quantities of hair out of the big boy's head, and scratched his face so dreadfully, that he was at length driven to tears and entreaties58 to her to leave off. "Do yer want any more?" screamed Prissy, whose breath was almost gone. The big boy's answer was to run away, whimpering, and the other boys hooted59 him as he fled. "Would any other boy like to come on?" demanded the panting Prissy. Not one accepted the challenge, and Prissy, glaring at them as they followed their vanquished60 comrade, went back to Victoria Regina, and shed copious61 tears of indignant satisfaction over the sleeping babe.
In this way it was that Aaron Cohen fought the battle and gained a bloodless victory. He laughed in his sleeve as he thought of it, and laughed aloud in his cosy62 little parlour when he related the whole affair to Rachel.
"One shilling and eightpence has it cost me, my love," he said, "and I do not grudge63 the money. Show 'me the battle that has been won for less."
Rachel was greatly relieved; but her dominant64 feeling was admiration65 for her husband's wisdom.
"I do not believe any other man in the world would have thought of it," she said; and though Aaron shook his head in modest deprecation, he was justified66 in inwardly congratulating himself upon his astute67 tactics.
The story got about, and the townspeople were much amused by it. "Mr. Cohen's a clever fellow," they said. He grew to be respected by them, and as the weeks passed by and it was seen that he was not only a fair-dealing but a kindly-hearted man, the innuendoes68 which Mr. Whimpole continued to circulate about him produced a very small effect. Mr. Whimpole was not pleased; where is the man who would have been in his position? Talking one night with Rachel over the animosity the corn-chandler bore towards the Jews, Aaron said,--
"I have no doubt, my dear, that he is quite conscientious69, and that he considers his prejudices to be the outcome of a just conviction. Doubtless his parents had the same conviction, and he imbibed70 it from them. There are thousands of people who agree with him, and there are worse persecutions than that to which we have been subjected. Look at that infamously-governed country, Russia, which, in the maps, ought to be stamped blood-red, with a heavy mourning border around it! The wretches71 who inflict72 incredible sufferings upon countless73 innocent beings call themselves Christians74. They are not Christians, they are fiends, and a judgment75 will fall upon them. Spain, once the greatest of nations, fell into decay when the Jews deserted76 it. So will it be with other nations that oppress the Jew. Let Germany look to it. It is easy to arouse the evil passions of human beings, but a brand of fire shall fall upon the heads of those who are employed in work so vile77."
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1
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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ratiocination
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| n.推理；推断 | |
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chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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21
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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engendered
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| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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24
cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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27
organise
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| vt.组织，安排，筹办 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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31
scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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32
disbursed
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| v.支出，付出( disburse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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38
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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39
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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42
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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43
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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44
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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45
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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46
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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48
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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49
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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50
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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51
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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52
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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53
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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54
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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55
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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56
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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57
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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58
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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59
hooted
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| （使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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61
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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62
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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63
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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64
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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65
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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66
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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67
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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68
innuendoes
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| n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 )；讽刺的话；含沙射影；暗讽 | |
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69
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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70
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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72
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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73
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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74
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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75
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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76
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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