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 THE TWO BROTHERS 401

brothers were sitting in the house of the poor relation and talking about home. It was summer-time, and a Friday afternoon.

"I wonder what father is doing now," said Yainkele, staring at the small panes in the small window.

"He must be cutting his nails/' answered Berele, with a melancholy smile.

"He must be chopping up lambs' feet," imagined Yainkele, "and Mother is combing Chainele, and Chainele is crying."

"Now we've talked nonsense enough !" decided Berele. "How can we know what is going on there ?"

"Perhaps somebody's dead !" added Yainkele, in sud- den terror.

"Stuff and nonsense!" said Berele. "When people die, they let one know "

"Perhaps they wrote, and the carrier won't give us the letter"

"Ai, that's chatter enough !" Berele was quite cross. "Shut up, donkey ! You make me laugh," he went on, to reassure Yainkele, "they are all alive and well."

Yainkele became cheerful again, and all at once he gave a bound into the air, and exclaimed with eager eyes:

"Berele, do what I say ! Let's write by the post !"

"Right you are!" agreed Berele. "Only I've no money."

"I have four kopeks; they are over from the ten I got last night. You know, at my 'Thursday' they give me ten kopeks for supper, and I have four over.