The first-born, Simhah, may he rest in peace,
had been married long before; he was the junior Shohet in town, and
a candidate for the Rabbinate. Solomon was more learned in the
Torah, young though he was, peace be unto him. . . . Well, they are
now in the world-of-truth, in the world-to-come, both of them. But
Dovidl, had he lived, would have excelled them both. That is the
way of the Angel of Death, he chooses the very best. As to
myself--why deny it?--I was a dullard. Somehow my soul was not
attuned to the Torah.
As I said, mother was uttering complaints against Heaven, always
crying. Yes, in the matter of tears they are experts. I have
pondered over it, and have found it out: fish were created out of
the mud-puddle, and woman out of tears. Father used to scold her
mightily, but she did not mind it; and she never ceased bemoaning
Dovidl and crying unto Heaven, "who gave the Angel of Death power
over him."
On the night after Sabbath, when father had extinguished the taper
in the dregs of the Havdolah cup, he turned to mother, and said:
"Now man born of woman is unwise all his life long.
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