Volume 1 — VIIVII. DIE MUME SOSJE ('Die Jüdene,' pp. 65-67)

Vierte Scene

(Chanzi-Ginendel kummt arein; Sosje un' Silberseid hēben sich auf vun die Pläze.)

Sosje. Awade, awade! Seht ihr? O dās is' mein Schwesterl!

Silberseid. (Nemmt bei ihr die Hand un' nēigt sich hoeflich.) Es freut mich Ihre Kanntschaft.

"You have cut off my young years, You ought at least to watch over my child; I have not enjoyed much pleasure in Your world,—at least let me lie in peace in my grave!

"How can I lie in peace in my grave, when my orphan's blood flows into it? How can I return to my grave, when my grave is full of the tears of my orphaned child?"

* * * * * * * *

"Now, be silent, my child, be quiet, my own soul! I have had good news from the Lord! God says there will be an end to your troubles, He will save you from your stepmother's hands.

"God will punish the evil woman, and you, my child, be quiet and hope in God! For all your sorrows, for all your suffering, God will pay you with pleasures and joys.

"Now, be silent, my child, wipe off your tears! You must not disturb me in my rest! God will fulfil His holy word; and now I may lie quietly in my place!"

VII. AUNT SOSIE Fourth Scene

(Chanzi-Ginendel enters; Sosie and Silberseid rise from their seats.)

Sosie. Certainly, certainly! Do you see? Here is my sister!

Silberseid. (Takes her hand and greets her politely.) I am glad to make your acquaintance.

Sosje. No, meine liebe Kinderlech! Sitzt euch dā a Bissele! Plaudert euch a Bissel! Un' ich mus gēhn—ihr sent junge Leut', un' mir senen schōn, chleben, ältere. Uns is' schōn der Kopp verschlāgen mit andere Sachen. Män darf balebosten in Stub'. Sitzt euch dā! Ich kumm' bald. (Sie lāst sicht aweggēhn un' leben der Thür' thut sie a Ruf.) Chanzi-Ginendenju, mein Leben! Auf ēin Minut! (Chanzi-Ginendel gēht zu zu-n ihr.)

Sosje. (Ihr in Ōher.) Vergess' nor nit, wu du bist in der Welt! Wēiss nor mit ihm wie asō zu rēden,—der Iker, wās wēniger rēden! (Sie gēht araus un' kuckt sich unter durch der Thür'.)

Fünfte Scene

(Silberseid un' Chanzi-Ginendel nehmen Stuhlen un' setzen sich Ēins leben's Andere.)

Silberseid. (Auf der Seit.) Ich wēiss? Soll mich asō wissen Boes', wie ich wēiss, vun wās-er a Sprache mit ihr ānzuhēben rēden! Ta, lā-mir prüwen! (Zu Chanzi-Ginendeln, hōch.) Et comment vous portez-vous, mademoiselle?

Chanzi-Ginendel. (Thut a Schmēichel.) Hm! Hm! Ihr frägt, zi bin ich noch a Mamzell! Jā! Gläubt mir, me hāt mir schōn übergeredt Schiduchim ohn' an Eck. Die Schadchonim schlāgen āb die Thüren bei mein Schwester. Ēiner hāt mich gewollt nehmen, asō wie ich stēh' un' gēh'. Er hāt mich gewollt beklēiden vun Kopp bis Fuss, wāren er allēin is' sēhr reich, un' bei mir will er nit ēin Pitak; abi die Schwester soll nor araussāgen 'Jā.' Nor ich hāb' sich betracht, wās hāb' ich sich dā zu eilen, zi ich bin dā schōn asa-n-alte Māid? Erst heuntigen Summer is' mir gewor'en fufzehn Jāhr. (Sie tracht.) Sieben un' neun un' neun is fufzehn.

Sosie. Well, my dear children! Sit here a little while! Talk to each other! I must go away! You are young people, but we have grown to be old. Our head is filled with worries of all kind. I must look after the household. Sit down! I shall be back after a while. (She starts away, but calls back from the door.) Darling Chanzi-Ginendel, my dear! Just for a minute! (Chanzi-Ginendel goes to her.)

Sosie. (In a whisper.) Do not lose your head and do not forget where you are in the world. Be sure you say the right thing to him,—above all, don't talk too much. (She goes out, but peeps in through the door.)

Fifth Scene

(Silberseid and Chanzi-Ginendel take their chairs and seat themselves near each other.)

Silberseid. (Aside.) I declare! May I know of something evil if ever I know in what language to begin to speak to her! Well, let us try. (To Chanzi-Ginendel, loud.) Et comment vous portez-vous, mademoiselle?

Chanzi-Ginendel. (Smiling.) Hm! Hm! You want to know if I am still a Miss! Yes, believe me, they have been making matches for me without end. The go-betweens have been tearing down the doors of my sister's house. There was one who wanted to take me just as I am. He wanted to dress me up from head to foot, for he is himself very rich, and he does not ask for a nickel of mine; he is only waiting for my sister to give her consent. But I have thought over the matter; I thought there was no hurry yet, that I was not yet an old maid. I am fifteen years this summer. (She thinks.) Seven and nine and nine is fifteen.

Silberseid. (Die ganze Zeit verwundert, bei der Seit.) No, no! A gut Min Franzoesisch! Lā-mir prüwen weiter! (Hōch.) Haben Sie nicht ein Bändchen Saphir?

Chanzi-Ginendel. Wās täug' euch a safirn Bändele? Awade auf a Halstüchel! Wēiss ich, heunt is' der Kolir schōn araus vun der Mode. Heunt trāgt män Havana oder Bismarck. Ich hāb' erst nit lang a Jungermann geschenkt asōns! Willt ihr? Känn ich euch schenken.

A. Goldfaden.