UNCLE ISRAEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 21 December 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

UNCLE ISRAEL.

(By Bruno Lessing). It would take altogether too long to begin at the beginning. Suffice it that there were three of them: Isidore Charkowsky, who was married and was held to be very respectable, Isaac 'Charkowsky, who avas married and was held to be very (respectable, and David Charkowsky, who was not ■married and was not held to. be very respectable. Which l , naturally, makes David the most interesting of the three. Tli» fact that he was the youngest of the three brothers may, perhaps, be accepted in extenuation. They had emigrated from Bussia, together. Isidore and Isaac, being somewhat older, had clung to thoways of their Ifatblers and- had fallen, into the routine of tire older generation of the Ghetto —which means many tilings. David, younger and of more plastic fibre, bad been quick to assimilate the habits and tendencies of the younger generation.—a process usually known as Americanization — and had, 'without tho slightest apparent effort, succeeded in falling under the ban of his orthodox brothers. Which' means, in brief, that lie played cards, frequented coffee-houses, neglected the synagogue, shunned tho Beth Mamerdrish, and, in moments of abstraction, even omitted the daily Shema. Until they were married, Isidore and Isaac possessed most of their interest in lifo in common: a state of affairs that wives usually succeed in shattering. David, however, had always been a thorn in their side, for his ways were not their ways and his point of view was diametrically opposed to theirs. In fact, upon the day when, the three brothers decided to escape from the bondage of .Russia and cast tlleir fortunes in the new world, they had but one possession, one solitary interest in life, in. common. And that was a rich uncle. Upon coming home from work one night-. Isidore Charkowsky found- his wife poring over a letter. “It is for you,” she said. “I w anted to know what was in it so I opened it.”

Therein, bv the .wav, lay the key to the Isidore Chairkowsky household. Isidore, without a murmur of protest, took the letter from her hands and began to read it. His eyes began to sparkle, find he smacked his lips expectantly. “My rich Uncle Israel is on his way over from Bussia,” he said. ‘•'So 1 have been reading.” Observed his wife, “rßut he does not say

whether lie is going to live with us or with, your brother Isaac.” Isidore’ frowned: - ' “If he goes to live with. Isaac,” his wife went on, “ho might as just as well stay in Russia for all tho good it will .do us. Your "brother will poison Iris mind gainst you.” “Maybe lie didn’t write to Isaac,” suggested Isidore. “Maybe lie did, and maybe ho didn’t.” “Well, 1 have to see Isaac on business to-night, and if lie got a letter from uncle he will probably tell me.” “But bo careful, Isidore, and don’t say anything about your letter until he tells you he got one.” “Ob, I am too smart for that.” That night tho two 'brothers met, and Isidore .waited anxiously to hear his brother drop some hint as to whether ho had heard from his uncle. Blit -Isaac mover referred to their wealthy relative. It occurred to Isidore to try strategy. “I saw Schmulevitcli to-day,” he said. “IDO you know, Isaac, every timo I see that man ho makes me think of our Uncle Israel.” “Is that so?” commented 'lsaac.

Nothing more. ‘'We are safe,” said Isidore to Iris wife, that night. “.Isaac suspects nothing. And before he -knows that undo is here ho will be so comfortable with us that nothing could take him aiwa.y.” “What room shall wo give lli.ni?” asked (Mrs. C’harkow.sky. They discussed every phase of tine, situation unit! far into tho night, and "Airs. Charkowsky even had a. dream in which she saw demons —an infallible omen, as every woman- in- the 'Ghetto will assure von, that she was soon to to receive a. largo amount of money. For ten days Isidore and his wife made, elaborate preparations for the reception of Uncle Israel and built many a beautiful air-casitle- with the golden eggs that were soon -to be laid in their nest-. Then the ship ujion which the. uncle had sailed arrived in the harbor, and Isidore, arrayed in liis best Shabbas clothes, went to the Battery to meet him, for, with all liis wealth, Unde Israel had 1 insisted upon travelling in- the steerage. At the Battery, in the gateway through which all immigrants must pass, stood his brother Isaac. They glared at each other. “What aro you doing here?” demanded Isaac. “That,” replied Isidore calmly, “is largely my business. But. may I auk what you are doing here?” “Did you got a letter?” asked Isaac. “Sure I did. But he didn't say that lie wrote to you.” “Well, he did, and you may as well go home. I have prepared a. room for him, and he will be very comfortable with us. You can come to see him some time if you like, but. I .guess lie will be better off bv me than anywhere else.” “Bali!” replied Isidore. “Go home yourself. Your wife can’t cook, and unele ; is very particuta-r about what he e.ats. Besides, my wife has made all arrangements for him. You really might as well go home. You can visit him just as well -when he is by us.” Tlie discussion would, in all likelihood, have been kept up for the rest of the day if the immigrants’ boat had not- arrived and Uncle Israel, ruddy from hi.s sea-trip and staggering under a huge bundle of baggage, come upon the scene. “Dear, dear uncle.!” the brothers cried, with, one voice. “Come with me.” He stared blankly from one to the other, “Take his baggage, Isaac,” said Isidore. “I will lead him to my home.” “No, you take his baggage. Uncle is coming with me.” “AVait! wait!” cried Uncle Israel. “Let ane breathe. AVhat is the matter? AVliere is David? AATiy didn’t he come? I wrote to him, too.” “Oh, David is not much good any more,” said Isaac. “He is a-loafer. Isidore and mo liave with ham nothing .to.-do. .But you had better come to my house, uncle. AVe have everything ready for you, and any wife is crazy to see you.” lie seized liis uncle by the arm. and would have drawn him away had not Isidore hastily seized the other .air.m, crying: - “No! no! My wife’s crazy, too, AA'e have got everythaig ready for you, and my wife is a fine cook, uncle. Oh, a. lovely cook. Ask Isaac. Isn’t my wife a fine cook, Isaac?” “A’ou come with me, uncle, and to-night, or some other time, Isidore can come around and we will talk it over. Now let go liis arm, Isidore. Uncle is tired and wants to so home.”

“Sure lie is tired, Isaac. ' Please let go of his arm. His homo is my house and nobody’s rise's house,”

Undo Israel, bewildered, gazedfrom one to the other in dismay, wondering vaguely whether this was one of the customs of the new land, and then, suddenly, an idea flashed into his mind. “.Wait!” ho cried. “I know how we settle it. Whore lives my friend, the Bn.bhi Barisli?”

“Como to my house,” said Isaac, “and I will send for him.” “No! no!” said the old man determinedly. “Him I see first before I go to anybody’s house. Ho is nv old friend and a. good adviser. Come now, be good boys, and take my bundle. It's heavy.” There remained nothing for the nephews to do but to relieve him of In's burden and guide Mill to the rabbi’s residence. Tho rabbi greeted his old frond with affectionate cordiality.

“H’m!” said he, after Uncle Israel had laid the situation before him. “Which of your nephews is the. older?” “Mol” declared Isidore proudly. “Only a year,” sncerin-gly declared Isaac. “A year,” remarked the rabbi sagely, “is a year. The fact remains that lie is the older. Now the only way that I see is (for your uncle to go straight t!o Isidore’s, house.” “Sure!” said Isidore. “That is the only way.” “And stay there a. week.- 'After which he should go to Isaac's house and stay there a week. Then he can return to Isidore’s house for another week and then go to Isaac's for the following week until he makes up his mind where lie wants to live all the time.” “You are my dear, old friend,” exclaimed Uncle Israel, embracing the rabbi. Isaac entered veheiWent protests against this arrangement, but the forces against him were too strong to he resisted. “All right,” said he.. “Besides being a good- cook, my wife is a good doctor. When you come to us with indigestion she knows liow to cure you.”

The .Isidore Cliarkowskys had . triumphed, and during the evening meal that day they gloated over tho discomfiture of brother Isaac. “You see, uncle,” ' said Isidoro, “Isaac’s wife is a fine woman, but—” A comprehensive wave of his hand in. tho direction, of his spouse was more eloquent than an hour’s speech. “And Isaac,” remarked Airs Isidore, “is a good enough kind of man, as men go, but when you compare him with Isidore-—” Her head, poised to one side, and her hands outstretched with palms uppermost conveyed more meaning that a volume.- And thus, throughout the evening, not the slightest opportunity was Jest to disparage the absent brother until, finally, Uncle Israel, to change the subject, asked about David. Isidore and liis wife gazed upon his pityingly. “David?” they asked. “The less you see of him tlie better. -He does not come to visit us. "We do not wish to see him. He goes with Goyim (Christians), plays cards, and spends all bis time in the theatres and coffeehouses.” AVlien Isidore returned from work the following evening, his first question to his wife was, “AVhat has he been doing all day?” “He went out early in the morning and has just returned,” she replied. “AVell, uncle,” he inquired cheerily, “IIOW have you spent your first day in tho new land?” “Never mind,” replied Uncle Israel. “I wish you would send Tor David. I avant to see him.” Isidore and his wife gazed at each other in dismay. “He is not fit to be in vour company, uncle,” said Isidore. “.Maybe. But I want to see him. I haven’t seen him for twenty years. Not since He was a little boy. Tell him I’m here.” To Isidore’s great relief, Isaac and his wife arrived at that moment, and to Airs Isidore’s intense disgust, Airs Isaac, without waiting for the formality of an introduction, threw her arms around the rich relative’s neck and kissed 'him, enthusiastically, upon both cheeks. 1 “Dear, dear uncle!” slie cried. “How can we live until the happy day when you come to us?” ' Uncle Israel submitted stolidly to her embrace until the pood lady had. exhausted herself. Then turning to Isaac, lie said: ; “I want to see David. AYill you : send for him?” Isidore and Isaac exchanged glanc- [ es. “Uncle,” said Isaac, “he is our • .brother and we cannot disown him, but,”—liis handkerchief flew to his L eyes—“ho is a thorn in our side. It l would only distress you to meet - him.” > “Nevertheless,” said Untile Israel, i stubbornly, “I would like to seo him.” It was Isaac who wrote the note while Isidore went out to seek a mes--5 senger, and when Isidore returned L witli a bright-eyed little boy who had b agreed, to deliver the message for a 3 penny, Isaac read aloud what lie had r written.

“Brother David,” so rail the note, “our dear Uncle Israel is at Brother Isidore’s home. He has just arrived from Russia. Have you anything to say to him?”

“You see,” he explained to his uncle, “I did not say you wanted to see him. Let him come if lie wishes to.”

Uncle Isreal nodded approbation. Tho boy went off with the note, and returned within a quarter of an hour, with the answer:“Give the old man my love. I’m playing pinochle with Rosuofsky, and I’m out. Bring uncle around if he isn’t busy. Yours David.”

Both Isidore and Isaac could hardly Contain tlieir triumph. “AAliat did .I tell you?” exclaimed Isidore. “He will not. even leave his game of cards to pay liis respacts to liis dear uncle.”

Uncle Israel’s forehead was puckered into many wrinkles, and his eyes gazed steadily at the wall for a long time. FinalUy, “What is that pinoclile?” lie asked. “It is a gamble,” explained Isaac. “It is played with cards and for money. David spends all his money playing it.”

“Does ho never win?” asked Uncle Israel.

Isidore shook his head. “ I don’t think so,” he replied. “Ho never has .any money.” Uncle Israel drew a long breath. Then jumping briskly to his feet, “Bring mo my overcoat,” he said.” '■“Why, uncle?” “Bring me my overcoat, I said,” lio repeated. “I’m going to see David. He is too young to spend alii his money playing cards.” Despite all their persuasion, deaf to all arguments, he insisted upon setting out to find his erring nephew, and, would, no doubt, have gone alone, had not Isidore and Isaac decided that their wisest course wias to accompany him. Pinkus’s cafe was crowded when they arrived, and through the thick cloud of tobacco smoko that filled the room it was some time before they located tlicir erring relative. They found him, at last, seated in a cozy corner of the room, leaning back comfortably in his chair with his feet upon another chair, earnestly engaged in a gamo of cards.

“David,” said Isidore, “hero is Uncle Israel come to see you.” David's eyes were glued to his cards. "Sit down, uncle,” said lie, without looking up. “Wait till I play this hand.”

Uncle Israel seated himself in. silence, and Isidore and Isaac exchanged glances of satisfaction. A moment later tho game was finished and then —and not until then —David turned towards his uncle and, clapping him heartily upon the shoulder, cried: “Welcome to tho United (States, uncle! Aly! you haven’t changed a, bit. You look just as you did when 1 was a little hoy. A.re you having a. good time?” There was something so hearty in his greeting and an air of such engaging amiablity about film that Undo Israel’s words of reproach died upon Ms lips. “Have you been a good hoy, David?” lie asked. David laughed. “Oil, pretty good 1 But- not as good as my brothers. I spend all my money and have a good time, but they save their money and —well, maybe they have a good’ time, too. But they’re, kind of old-fashion-ed. Hey. Isidore? If you want to get along in this country, uncle, don’t ho old-fashioned. Learn to be an American. What are you doing tonight?” “He is going back to my house,” answered Isidore.

“Maybe!” said Uncle Israel. “Why did you ask?” “Oh, I just thought if you bad

nothing bettor to do you might like to go to tho theatre tvitli me. 1 have two tickets.” ■"Sure I’ll gol” he replied-. "Uncle 1” cried Isidore .and Isaac an a horrified tone. "What’s tho matter with you?” ho domanded peevishly. “Isn’t it hotter (for ane to take -hint to the theatre •than to let him play cards here?” David grinned. "After the theatre, uncle, I know a nice place " here we can got supper and see a. lot of nice people.” "But, uncle,” cried Isidore, ’"the. theatre is not. over until midnight-. How can you find your way to my home?” “You can stay with me, uncle,” Said David, smiling at him. "I always keep an extra hod for a bachelor friend.” When David smiled his face lit up, ft careless, hoyisli face, without a trace of wickedness, and most people who saw him smile felt- like smiling, too. At any rate, a most genial smile overspread Uncle Israel's face ns he turned triumphantly to Isidore and exclaimed, “Say! That’s the hist idea I have yet hoard.” "Uncle.” said Isidore*, in despair, "let mo have a talk with you in private. Just one minute, uncle, dear!” Uncle Israel shook his head. "No! DO! No private talk! Hey, David? Come on, David! We must go to the theatre. Tell your wife, Isidore, if I do not come hack after the theatre I will l*e by David.” “Well, uncle, all I can say is, you will be sorry. .But you are my dear uncle, and I will give you advice Look out for robbers!” And ho nodded significantly toward David.

Uncle Israel did not return to Isidore’s home that night, but upon the following day a messenger appeared with a request that Isidore send all his uncle’s belongings to David’s apartments. In great perturbation Airs Isidore sent for her husband. “Go and see tho old fool!” she cried. “Tell him -what .a dangerous character David is. If he goes there avo lose him for good.” Isidore found his uncle and David Seated at a table with a pack of cards between them. 'David was initiating his wealthy relative into the mysteries of pinochle. “Uncle,” said Isidore, aghast, “can 3 speak one word with you in private?” “No! No -private word! Hoy, David ?” “Aha!” cried Isidore, pointing excitedly to his uncle’s waistcoat. “You did not take my advice. Your big gold watch and chain -are gone. You have been robbed.” Uncle Israel shook his head calmly. “I gave it to David,” saidhe. “David did not know what time it is so he has to have a watch. Sit down, Isidore, -and watch me learn pinochle. Now what did you say four kings counted?” But Isidore fled to seek Brother Isaac and 1 consult with -liim as to the wisest course to pursue. They could not agree upon a plan of action that day or the next or even the next. But upon- the fourth day they decided upon- their course, and together they went to David’s apartments. The door was locked and their loud knocks brought no response. Presently thj adjoining door opened and a middleaged! woman appeared. “You want Mr David Charkowsky?” she asked. “Yes. Where is he?” “Ho went away last night with his rich uncle. They have gone a long pleasure-trip to take. They come back in two months maybe.”