Part 24

When Bontsie was taken to the hospital, his corner in the basement was not left unoccupied; ten people of his sort had been waiting for it, and it was auctioned off to the highest bidder; when they carried him from the hospital bed to the morgue, twenty poor people were waiting for his bed. When he left the morgue, they brought in twenty people who had been killed by a falling wall.... Who knows how long he will rest

wēisst, wie lang er wet ruhig wōhnen in Keewer? Wer wēisst, wieviel es warten schōn auf dem Stückel Platz....

Still gebōren, still gelebt, still gestorben un' noch stiller begrāben.

Nor nischt asō is' gewesen auf jener Welt! Dorten hat Bonzje's Tōdt a grōssen Rōschem gemacht!

Der grōsser Schōfer vun Moschiach's Zeiten hāt geklungen in alle sieben Himmlen: Bonzje Schweig is' nifter gewor'en! Die grösste Malochim mit die brēit'ste Flügel senen geflōgen un' Ēiner dem Anderen übergegeben: Bonzje is' "nischbakesch" gewor'en "bischiwo schel majlo"! In Ganeeden is' a Rasch, a Ssimche, a Geruder: "Bonzje Schweig! A Spass Bonzje Schweig!!!"

Junge Malochimlech mit brilljantene Aeugelech, goldene drāht-arbeitene Flügelech un' silberene Pantöffelech senen Bonzjen ankegen geloffen mit Ssimche! Der Gerasch vun die Flügel, dās Klappen vun die Pantöffelech un' dās froehliche Lachen vun die junge, frische, rosige Maülechlech hāt verfüllt alle Himmlen un' is' zugekummen bis zum Kisse-ha-kowed, un' Gott allēin hāt äuch schōn gewusst, as Bonzje Schweig kummt!

Awrohom Owinu hāt sich in Thōer vun Himmel gestellt, die rechte Hand ausgestellt zum brēiten "Scholem-aleechem!" un' a süsser Schmēichel scheint asō hell auf sein alten Ponim!

Wās rädelt asō in Himmel?

Dās hāben zwēi Malochim in Ganeeden arein far Bonzje's wegen a gingoldene Vāterstuhl auf Rädlech geführt!

Wās hāt asō hell geblitzt?

Dās hāt män durchgeführt a goldene Krōn', mit die theuerste Stēiner gesetzt! All's far Bonzjen!

quietly in his grave? Who knows how many are already waiting for his place?

* * * * *

Born quietly, lived quietly, died quietly, and still more quietly buried!

But matters went differently in the other world! There Bontsie's death produced a sensation!

The sound of Moses' ram's horn was heard in all the seven heavens: Bontsie Silent has died! The greatest angels, with the broadest wings, were flying about and announcing the news to each other: Bontsie has been summoned before the Judgment Seat! There is a noise, an excitement, a joy in Heaven: Bontsie Silent! Just think of it,--Bontsie Silent!!!

Young little angels with sparkling eyes, gold-worked wings, and silver slippers rushed out to receive Bontsie with joy! The buzzing of their wings, the clatter of their slippers, and the merry laughter of the young, fresh, and rosy little mouths filled the heavens and reached the Seat of Honor, and God himself knew that Bontsie Silent was coming!

Father Abraham placed himself at the gate of Heaven, and he stretched out his right hand for a friendly "Peace be with you!" and a sweet smile lit up his old face!

* * * * *

What are they rolling there in Heaven?

Two angels are rolling into Paradise an armchair of pure gold on wheels for Bontsie!

* * * * *

What caused that lightning?

They are carrying a golden crown, all set in the most precious stones! All for Bontsie!

--Noch var'n Psak vun Bess-din-schel-majle? frägen die Zadikim verwundert un' nischt gār ohn' Kine.

* * * * *

--Oh! entwern die Malochim, dās wet sein a proste, puste Forme! Gegen Bonzje Schweig wet afile der Katēgor kēin Wort in Maul nischt gefin'en! Die Djele wet dauern fünf Minut!

Ihr spielt sich mit Bonzje Schweig?

* * * * *

As die Malochimlech hāben Bonzjen gechappt in der Luft un' ābgespielt ihm a Semer; as Awrohom Owinu hāt ihm wie an alten Kamrat die Hand geschockelt; as er hāt gehört, as sein Stuhl is' grēit in Ganeeden; as auf sein Kopp wart't a Krōn', as in Bess-din-schel-majle wet män über ihm kēin übrig Wort nischt reden,--hāt Bonzje, gleich wie auf jener Welt, geschwiegen var Schreck! Es is' ihm dās Harz entgangen. Er is' sicher, as dās mus sein a Cholem, oder a proster Toes!

Er is' Bēide gewōhnt! Nischt ēin Māl hāt sich ihm auf jener Welt gecholemt, as er klaubt Geld auf der Podloge, ganze Ōzres liegen ... un' hāt sich aufgechappt noch a grösserer Kabzen wie nächten.... Nischt ēin Māl hāt män in'm a Toes gehāt, es hāt ihm Emiz zugeschmēichelt, a gut Wort gesāgt un' bald sich übergedrēht un' ausgespiegen....

--Mein Masel, tracht er, is' schōn asō!

Un' er hāt Mōre, die Äugen aufzuhēben, der Cholem soll nischt verschwunden wer'en; er soll sich nischt aufchappen ergez in a Hoehl' zwischen Schlangen un' Egdissen! Er hāt Mōre vun Maul a Klang arauszulāsen, a Tnue mit an Eewer zu machen,--män soll ihm nischt derkennen un' nischt awegschleudern auf Kaf-hakal....

Er zittert un' hört nit die Malochim's Komplimenten,

"What? Even before the sentence of the Supreme Court has been passed?" the saints ask not without envy.

"Oh!" answer the angels, "that will be a mere formality. The Prosecuting Attorney himself will find no words against Bontsie! The case will last but five minutes!"

Bontsie Silent--that's no trifling matter!

* * * * *

As the angels carried Bontsie through the air and played sweet tunes to him; as Father Abraham shook his hand like that of an old comrade; as he heard that his chair was ready for him in Paradise, that a crown was waiting for his head, that no trifling words would be spoken against him before the Supreme Court,--Bontsie was frightened into silence just as in the other world! His heart failed him. He was sure that this was but a dream, or a mere mistake!

He had been used to both. Many a time he had dreamed in the other world of picking up money from the floor where fortunes were lying.... More than once they had mistaken him for some one else; they had smiled at him, had said a good word, and then had turned aside, and spit out....

* * * * *

"That's just my luck!" thought he.

And he is afraid to raise his eyes for fear that the dream would disappear, that he should not awaken somewhere in a cave full of serpents and lizards. He is afraid to utter a sound, to move a limb, lest he be recognized and hurled to perdition.

* * * * *

He trembles and does not hear the compliments of

seht nischt sejer Arumtanzen arum ihm, er entwert nischt Awrohom Owinu auf'n herzlichen Scholem-aleechem, un'--geführt zum Bess-din-schel-majle, sāgt er ihm kein "Gut Morgen" nischt....

Bonzje is' ausser sich var Schreck!

Un' sein schreckliche Schreck is' noch grösser gewor'en as er hāt, nischt willendig, unter seine Füss' dersehn die Podloge vun Bess-din-schel-majle. Ssame Alabaster mit Brilljanten! "Auf asa Podloge stēhen meine Füss'!" Er wert in Ganzen verstarrt. "Wer wēisst, welchen Gwir, welchen Row, welchen Zadik män mēint ... er wet kummen, wet sein mein finsterer Ssof!"

Var Schreck hāt er afile nit gehört, wie der Präses hāt befeeresch ausgerufen: "Die Djele vun Bonzje Schweig!" un', derlangendig dem Meeliz-jōscher die Akten, gesāgt: "Les', nor bekizer!"

Mit Bonzjen drēht sich der ganzer Salon, es rauscht ihm in die Ōheren, nor in'm Gerausch hört er alle Māl scharfer un' scharfer dem Malech-meeliz's süss Kol wie a Fiedel:

--Sein Nāmen, hört er, hāt ihm gepasst, wie zum schlank Leib a Klēid vun an Artist a Schneider's Hand."

--Wās redt er? frägt sich Bonzje, un' er hört, wie an umgeduldig Kol hackt ihm über un' sāgt:

* * * * *

--Nor ohn' Mescholim!

--Er hāt kēin Māl, hēbt weiter ān der Meeliz-jōscher, auf Kēinem nischt geklāgt, nischt auf Gott, nischt auf Leut'; in sein Äug' hāt kēin Māl nischt aufgeflammt kēin Funk' Ssine, er hāt es kēin Māl nischt aufgehōben mit a Pretensje zum Himmel.

Bonzje verstēht weiter nischt a Wort, un' dās harte Kol schlāgt weiter über:

the angels, does not see their dancing around him, does not reply to Father Abraham's hearty "Peace be with you!" and being led before the Supreme Court he does not say "Good morning" to them.

Bontsie is beside himself with terror.

And his terrible fear is still increased when by accident he notices the floor of the Court Hall under his feet. Pure alabaster and brilliants! "On such a floor do my feet tread!" He grows stiff with fright. "Who knows what rich man, what Rabbi, what saint they mean!... I shall fare ill when he will come!"

* * * * *

In his terror he did not even hear the Presiding Officer's call: "The case of Bontsie Silent!" and his saying to the Advocate, as he handed him the documents: "Read, but be short!"

The whole hall is turning around with Bontsie, there is a din in his ears, and through it he can distinguish more sharply and more sharply the voice of the Advocate as sweet as a violin:

"His name," he hears him saying, "has fit him like an artist-tailor's gown on a graceful body."

"What is he talking about?" Bontsie asks himself. And he hears an impatient voice interrupting him, and saying:

"Pray, without similes!"

"He has never, proceeds the Advocate, complained against any one, neither against God nor against man! There has never flamed up a spark of hatred in his eyes; he has never uplifted them with any pretensions to Heaven."

Bontsie again does not understand a word, and the harsh voice interrupts him:

--Ohn' Retorik!

--Iow hāt nischt ausgehalten, er is' umglücklicher gewesen--

--Fakten, truckene Fakten! ruft noch umgeduldiger der Präses.

--Zu acht Tāg' hāt men ihm male gewesen--

--Nor ohn' Realism!

--A Mōhel, a Fuscher hāt dās Blut nit verhalten--

* * * * *

--Weiter!

--Er hāt alls geschwiegen, führt weiter der Meeliz-jōscher, afile wenn die Mutter is' ihm gestorben un' er hāt zu dreizehn Jāhr a Stiefmame bekummen ... a Stiefmame--a Schlang, a Marschaas....

--Mēint man doch efscher fort mich? tracht Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Ohn' Insinuazjes auf dritte Personen, boesert sich der Präses.

--Sie flegt ihm žalewen dem Bissen ... ēher-nächtig verschimmelt Brōt ... Hāar-flachs far Flēisch ... un' sie hāt Kawe mit Schmetten getrunken--

--Zu der Sach'--schreit der Präses.

--Sie hāt ihm far dās kēin Nägel nischt gekargt un' sein blo-un'-blo Leib flegt arauskucken vun alle Löcher vun seine verschimmelt-zurissene Klēider.... Winter, in die grösste Fröst', hāt er ihr bārwess auf'n Hōf Holz gehackt, un' die Händ' senen zu jung un' schwach gewesen, die Klötzlech zu dick, die Hack zu stumpig ... nischt ēin Māl hāt er sich die Händ' vun die Stawes ausgelenkt, nischt ēin Māl hāt er sich die Füss' ābgefrōren, nor geschwiegen hāt er afile sich var'n Vāter--

--Var'n Schiker! lacht arein der Katēgor, un' Bonzje werd kalt in alle Eewrim--

"Please, without rhetoric!"

"Job did not endure, but he has been more unfortunate--"

"Facts! Dry facts!" the President calls out more impatiently.

"On the eighth day he was circumcised--"

"Pray, without realism!"

"The surgeon was a quack, and he did not stanch the blood."

"Go on!"

"He was always silent," the Advocate proceeds, "even when his mother died, and he got upon his thirteenth year a stepmother ... a stepmother--a snake, a witch."

"Maybe he really means me?" Bontsie thinks to himself.

"Leave out insinuations against third persons!" says the President, angrily.

"She begrudged him every morsel.... Musty bread, three days old ... tendons for meat ... and she drank coffee with cream...."

"Let's come to business!" cries the President.

"And she did not spare him her finger nails, and his blue-and-black body peeped through all the holes of his musty clothes.... In winter, in the severest frosts, he chopped wood for her in his bare feet, and his hands were too young and too weak, the blocks too large, the axe too dull.... More than once he had sprained his wrists, more than once he had frozen his feet, but he was silent, and even to his father--"

* * * * *

"The drunkard!" the Prosecuting Attorney laughs out loud, and a shiver passes over Bontsie's body.

--Nischt geklāgt,--endigt der Meeliz-jōscher dem Satz.

--Un' ständig elend, führt er weiter, kēin Chawer, kēin Talmud-tōre, kēin Cheeder, kēin Schkole ... kēin ganz Beged ... kēin freie Minut--

--Fakten! ruft weiter der Präses.

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile später, wenn der Vāter hāt'n schikerhēit a Māl āngechappt bei die Hāar un' in Mitten a schneewindiger Winternacht arausgeworf en van Stub'! Er hāt sich still aufgehōben vun Schnee un' is' entloffen, wu die Äugen hāben ihm getrāgen....

Auf'n ganzen Weg hāt er geschwiegen ... beim grössten Hunger hāt er nor mit die Äugen gebettelt.

Erscht in a schwindeldige, nasse Wjosne-nacht is' er in a grōsse Stādt areingekummen; er is' arein wie a Troppen in a Jam un' doch hāt er die ēigene Nacht in Kose genächtigt.... Er hāt geschwiegen, nischt gefrägt far wās, far wenn? Er is' araus un' die schwerste Arbēit gesucht! Nor er hāt geschwiegen!

Noch schwerer far der Arbeit is' gewesen sie zu gefin'en,--er hāt geschwiegen!

Bādendig sich in kalten Schwēiss, zusammengedrückt unter der schwerster Last, beim grössten Krampf vun'm lēdigen Māgen, hāt er geschwiegen!

Bespritzt vun fremder Blote, bespiegen vun fremde Maüler, gejāgt vun Trotuaren mit der schwerster Last arāb in Gassen zwischen Droschkes, Kareten un' Tramwajs, kuckendig jede Minut dem Tōdt in die Äugen arein,--hāt er geschwiegen!

Er hāt kēin Māl nischt übergerechent, wieviel vun Masse es kummt aus auf a Groschen, wieviel Māl er is' gefallen bei jeden Gang far a Dreier, wieviel Māl er hāt schier nischt die Neschome ausgespiegen, māhnendig sein Verdienst, er hāt nischt gerechent, nischt sein, nischt Jenem's Masel, nor geschwiegen!

"He did not complain!" the Advocate concludes his sentence.

"And eternally alone, he proceeds,--no friend, no religious instruction, no school ... not a whole garb ... not a free minute!"

"Stick to facts!" calls out the President.

"He was silent even later, when his father, in a drunken fit, once grabbed him by his hair and kicked him out of the house into a stormy winter night. He quietly picked himself up and ran whither his eyes carried him.

"He was silent on his whole journey ... in the greatest frost he begged only with his eyes.

"In a nasty, wet spring night he arrived in a large city; he fell in like a drop in the Ocean, and yet he passed that very night in the police jail.... He was silent, did not ask why. He came out of it, and looked for the hardest work! And he was all the time silent.

* * * * *

"Much harder than the work was the finding of the same,--and he was silent.

"Bathing in cold sweat, bent under the heaviest burdens, during the severest cramps of his empty stomach,--he was silent!

"Besmutted by strangers' mud, bespit by strangers' mouths, driven with his heavy load from the sidewalks into the streets among buggies, coaches, and street cars, looking every moment into the eyes of death,--he was silent!

"He never calculated how many pounds of load came to every penny, how many times he stumbled on every three kopeks' errand, how many times he almost exhaled his soul collecting his pay; he did not beseech or curse,--he only was silent!

Sein ēigen Verdienst hāt er nischt hōch gemāhnt. Wie a Bettler hāt er sich bei der Thür gestellt, un' in die Äugen hāt sich a hüntische Bakosche gemālt! "Kumm' später!" un' er is' wie a Schātten still verschwunden gewor'en, kedee später noch stiller auszubettlen sein Verdienst!

Er hāt afile geschwiegen, wenn män flegt ihm ābreissen vun sein Verdienst, oder ihm areinzuwarfen a falsche Matbeje ... er hāt alls geschwiegen....

--Mēint män doch take mich! troest't sich Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Ēin Māl, führt weiter der Meeliz-jōscher noch a Trunk Wasser, is' in sein Leben a Schinui gewor'en ... es is' durchgeflōgen a Kotsch mit gummene Räder mit zuploschete Ferd' ... der Schmeisser is' schōn lang vun weitens gelegen mit a zuspaltenem Kopp auf'n Bruk ... vun die derschrockene Ferd's Maüler spritzt der Schaum, vun unter die Podkowes jāgen sich Funken, wie vun Lokomotiw, die Äugen blischtschen wie brennendige Sturkatzen in a finsterer Nacht,--un' in Kotsch sitzt nischt tōt, nischt lebedig, a Mensch.

Bonzje hāt die Ferd' verhalten!

Der Gerateweter is' gewesen a Jüd, a Balzdoke, un' hāt Bonzjen die Tōwe nischt vergessen.

Er hāt ihm dem Gehargenten's Kelnje übergegeben; Bonzje is' a Schmeisser gewor'en! Noch mehr,--er hāt ihm Chassene gemacht, noch mehr,--er hāt ihm afile mit a Kind versorgt,--un' Bonzje hāt alls geschwiegen!

--Mich mēint män, mich! befestigt sich Bonzje in der Deje, un' hāt sich die Hose nischt, an Äug' zu warfen auf'n Bess-din-schel-majle....

Er hört sich weiter ein zum Malech-meeliz:

"He did not ask loud for his pay. Like a mendicant he stood at the door with a doglike prayer in his eyes. 'Come later!' and he disappeared quietly like a shadow, in order to ask later still more quietly for his dues!

* * * * *

"He was silent even when they knocked off something from his pay, or paid him in a counterfeit coin ... he was silent...."

"It seems they really mean me!" Bontsie consoles himself.

* * * * *

"Once," proceeds the Advocate, after taking a drink of water, "there came a change in his life ... a coach with rubber wheels and frightened horses rushed by ... the driver lay way back on the pavement with his head split open ... foam spurted from the mouths of the frightened horses, and sparks flew from under their feet, as from a locomotive; their eyes sparkled like glowing coals in a dark night,--and in the coach there was sitting, more dead than alive, a man!

* * * * *

"Bontsie stopped the runaway.

"The person thus saved was a Jew, a charitable man, and he did not forget Bontsie's kindness.

"He transferred to him the seat of the killed man; Bontsie became a driver! More than that,--he got him married; still more, he provided him with a child ... and Bontsie kept silent all the time!"

* * * * *

"They mean me, they mean me!" Bontsie strengthens himself in his belief, and he has no courage to raise his eyes on the Supreme Judge.

He listens again to the Advocate.

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile, wenn sein Baltōwe hāt in Kurzen bankrottirt un' ihm sein S-chires äuch.... Er hāt geschwiegen afile, wenn dās Weib is' ihm entloffen un' übergelāst ihm a Kind vun der Brust....

Er hāt geschwiegen afile mit fufzehn Jāhr später, wenn dās Kind is' aufgewachsen un' genug stark gewesen,--Bonzjen arauszuwarfen vun Stub'....

--Mich mēint män, mich! frēut sich Bonzje.

* * * * *

--Er hāt afile geschwiegen, hēbt ān wēicher un' traueriger der Malech-meeliz, wenn der ēigener Baltōwe hāt sich mit Alle ausgegleicht, nor ihm kēin Groschen S-chires nischt zurückgegeben,--un' afile demelt, wenn er is' Bonzjen (weiter fāhrendig auf a Kotsch mit gummene Räder un' Ferd' wie Loeben) übergefāhren....

--Er hāt alls geschwiegen! Er hāt afile der Polizēi nischt gesāgt, wer es hāt ihm zurecht gemacht....

* * * * *

--Er hāt geschwiegen afile in Spital, wu män mäg schōn schreien!

Er hāt geschwiegen afile, wenn der Doktor hāt ohn' fufzehn Kop. nischt gewollt zu'n ihm zugēhn, un' der Wächter ohn' fünf Kop.--tauschen die Wäsch'!

Er hāt geschwiegen beim Gōssen, er hāt geschwiegen in der letzter Rege, beim Starben....

Kēin Wort gegen Gott, kēin Wort gegen Leut'! Dixi!

* * * * *

Bonzje hēbt ān weiter zu zittern auf'n ganzen Leib. Er wēisst, as nāch'n Meeliz-jōscher gēht der Katēgor. Wer wēisst, wās der wet sāgen? Er allēin hāt sein ganz Leben nischt gedenkt, noch auf jener Welt hāt er jede Minut die früherdige vergessen ... der Meeliz-jōscher

"He was silent even when his benefactor became bankrupt and did not pay him his wages.... He was silent even when his wife ran away and left him with a nursing babe....

"He was silent even fifteen years later when the child grew up, and was strong enough to throw Bontsie out of doors...."

"They mean me, they mean me!" Bontsie says joyfully.

"He was silent," the Advocate begins again with a softer and sadder voice, "when his benefactor resumed business, but did not pay him a cent, and even then, when he ran over him, again riding in a carriage with rubber tires, and horses like lions.

* * * * *

"He was all that time silent! He did not even tell the police who had maimed him so.

* * * * *

"He was silent even in the hospital, where one may cry!

"He was silent even when the doctor would not come to him unless he was paid fifteen kopeks, and the janitor would not change his shirt without five kopeks!

"He was silent during the last moments of his life, he was silent in his death agony....

"Not a word against God, not a word against man! Dixi!"

* * * * *

Bontsie begins again to tremble in his whole body. He knows that after the Advocate comes the Prosecuting Attorney. Who knows what he will say? He himself had never, during his whole life, preserved the memory of anything ... in the other world, he forgot

hāt ihm All's dermāhnt ... wer wēisst, wās der Katēgor wet ihm dermāhnen!

* * * * *

--Rabōssai! hēbt ān a scharf-stichedig, brühendig Kol--

Nor er hackt āb--

--Rabōssai! hēbt er noch a Māl ān, nor wēicher un' hackt weiter āb.

Endlich hört sich, vun dem ēigenem Hals araus, a wēich Kol, wie a Putter:

--Rabōssai! Er hāt geschwiegen! Ich will äuch schweigen!

Es werd still, un' vun vorent hört sich a neue wēiche, zitterdige Stimme:

--Bonzje, mein Kind Bonzje! ruft es wie a Harfe.... Mein harzig Kind Bonzje! In Bonzjen zuwēint sich dās Harz ... er wollt' schōn die Äugen geöffent, nor see senen verfinstert vun Trähren.... Es is' ihm asō süss-wēinendig kēin Māl nischt gewesen.... "Mein Kind," "Mein Bonzje,"--seit die Mutter is' gestorben, hāt er asa Kol un' asōne Wörter nischt gehört--

--Mein Kind! führt weiter der Ow-bess-din,--du hāst alls gelitten un' geschwiegen! Es is' nischt dā kein ganz Eewer, kēin ganz Bēindel in dein Leib ohn' a Rane, ohn' a blutig Ort, es is' nischt dā kēin ēin behalten Ort in dein Neschome, wu es soll nischt bluten ... un' du hāst alls geschwiegen....

Dort hāt män sich nischt verstan'en derauf! Du allēin hāst gār efscher nischt gewusst, as du kännst schreien un' vun dein Geschrēi können Jereecho's Mauern zittern un' einfallen! Du allēin hāst vun dein verschlāfenem Kōach nischt gewusst....

Auf jener Welt hāt män dein Schweigen nischt

every moment the previous ... the Advocate brought back so many recollections ... who knows what the Prosecuting Attorney will remind him of?

"Judges!" he begins with a sharp, stinging voice--

* * * * *

But he stops short.

"Judges!" he begins once more, but more softly, and he interrupts himself again.

At last there issues from the same throat a voice as soft as butter:

"Judges! He has been silent! I shall be silent too!"

All is still, and in front a new soft, trembling voice is heard: