The Melting-Pot (A Tale of Russian Jewish Immigrants). Israel Zangwill

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СКАЧАТЬ [Smiling]

      But what can you do with a letter except open it? Any more than with an oyster?

      MENDEL [Smiling as he puts the letter on David's desk]

      To a pious Jew letters and oysters are alike forbidden—at least letters may not be opened on our day of rest.

      VERA

      I'm sure I couldn't rest till I'd opened mine.

      [Enter from the kitchen Frau Quixano, defending herself with excited gesticulation. She is an old lady with a black wig, but her appearance is dignified, venerable even, in no way comic. She speaks Yiddish exclusively, that being largely the language of the Russian Pale.]

      FRAU QUIXANO

      Obber ich hob gesogt zu Kathleen——

      MENDEL [Turning and going to her]

      Yes, yes, mother, that's all right now.

      FRAU QUIXANO [In horror, perceiving her Hebrew book on the floor, where Kathleen has dropped it]

      Mein Buch!

      [She picks it up and kisses it piously.]

      MENDEL [Presses her into her fireside chair]

      Ruhig, ruhig, Mutter!

      [To Vera]

      She understands barely a word of English—she won't disturb us.

      VERA

      Oh, but I must be going—I was so long finding the house, and look! it has begun to snow!

      [They both turn their heads and look at the falling snow.]

      MENDEL

      All the more reason to wait for David—it may leave off. He can't be long now. Do sit down.

      [He offers a chair.]

      FRAU QUIXANO [Looking round suspiciously]

      Wos will die Shikseh?

      VERA

      What does your mother say?

      MENDEL [Half-smiling]

      Oh, only asking what your heathen ladyship desires.

      VERA

      Tell her I hope she is well.

      MENDEL

      Das Fräulein hofft dass es geht gut——

      FRAU QUIXANO [Shrugging her shoulders in despairing astonishment]

      Gut? Un' wie soll es gut gehen—in Amerika!

      [She takes out her spectacles, and begins slowly polishing and adjusting them.]

      VERA [Smiling]

      I understood that last word.

      MENDEL

      She asks how can anything possibly go well in America!

      VERA

      Ah, she doesn't like America.

      MENDEL [Half-smiling]

      Her favourite exclamation is "A Klog zu Columbessen!"

      VERA

      What does that mean?

      MENDEL

      Cursed be Columbus!

      VERA [Laughingly]

      Poor Columbus! I suppose she's just come over.

      MENDEL

      Oh, no, it must be ten years since I sent for her.

      VERA

      Really! But your nephew was born here?

      MENDEL

      No, he's Russian too. But please sit down, you had better get his answer at once.

      [Vera sits.]

      VERA

      I suppose you taught him music.

      MENDEL

      I? I can't play the violin. He is self-taught. In the Russian Pale he was a wonder-child. Poor David! He always looked forward to coming to America; he imagined I was a famous musician over here. He found me conductor in a cheap theatre—a converted beer-hall.

      VERA

      Was he very disappointed?

      MENDEL

      Disappointed? He was enchanted! He is crazy about America.

      VERA [Smiling]

      Ah, he doesn't curse Columbus.

      MENDEL

      My mother came with her life behind her: David with his life before him. Poor boy!

      VERA

      Why do you say poor boy?

      MENDEL

      What is there before him here but a terrible struggle for life? If he doesn't curse Columbus, he'll curse fate. Music-lessons and dance-halls, beer-halls and weddings—every hope and ambition will be ground out of him, and he will die obscure and unknown.

      [His head sinks on his breast, Frau Quixano is heard faintly sobbing over her book. The sobbing continues throughout the scene.]

      VERA [Half rising]

      You have made your mother cry.

      MENDEL

      Oh, no—she understood nothing. She always cries on the eve of the Sabbath.

      VERA [Mystified, sinking back into her chair]

      Always cries? Why?

      MENDEL [Embarrassed]

      Oh, well, a Christian wouldn't understand——

      VERA

      Yes I could—do tell me!

      MENDEL

СКАЧАТЬ