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 children! (More softly, yet loud enough for Yekel and Sarah to hear.) God alone knows how such a pure child came to them. . . Imagine, brought up in such a place, — may Heaven not punish us for mentioning it. (Louder.) And they guard her like the apple of their eye. . . They weigh and measure every step she takes. It's a delight to look at her. (Goes over to Yekel.) Never mind. Everybody knows it. (Pointing to Rifkele.) If I had a Rabbi for a son, I'd choose her for his bride.

Everybody knows it. It's the talk of the town.

Just wait till I lead her under the wedding canopy, in God's good time. You'll all get a whole goose apiece, and a pickerel just out of the water, and roubles galore. And if I lie, then my name isn't Yekel Tchaftchovitch!

And I tell you, it's just as if she had been brought up in a synagogue, — Heaven pardon the word in this place. So pure and modest. . . finer than any child of the most respectable family.

Folks will learn all about it. It's the talk of the town.