Page:Yiddish Tales.djvu/356

 352 PINSKI

all men would be equal in happiness, knowledge, and education, and his dying heart beat a little quicker, while his face expressed joy and contentment. He opened his eyes, and saw beside him a couple of teachers.

"And will it really be?" he asked and smiled.

"Yes, Eeb Shloinaeh," they answered, without know- ing to what his question referred, for his face told them it was something good. The smile accentuated itself on his lips.

Once again he lost himself in thought.

He wanted to imagine that happy world, and see with his mind's eye nothing but happy people, educated people, and he succeeded.

The picture was not very distinct. He was imagining a great heap of happiness happiness with a body and soul, and he felt himself so happy.

A sound of lamentation disturbed him.

"Why do they weep?" he wondered. "Every one will have a good time everyone !"

He opened his eyes ; there were already lights burning. The room was packed with people. Beside him stood all his children, come together to take leave of their father.

He fixed his gaze on the little grandchildren, a gaze of love and gladness.

"They will see the happy time," he thought.

He was just going to ask the people to stop lament- ing, but at that moment his eye caught the workmen of the evening before.

"'Come here, come here, children !" and he raised his voice a little, and made a sign with his head. People