Ikey’s Recklessness
Ikey, eleven years of age and of unmistakable Hebrew persuasion, was taken out of school and put to work in a nearby store, where he was rewarded with the princely honorarium of a dollar and a half per week. For the first three weeks, Ikey brought home the pay envelope on Saturday night and turned it over to his mother. On the fourth Saturday, however, he was five cents short.
“Ikey,” said his mother, “where is that other nickel?”
“I need that nickel, ma,” replied Ikey.
For the next three weeks this dialogue was repeated when the week’s pay was turned in. The following Saturday Rachel had further cause for suspicion, for there was only $1.40 in the pay envelope.
“Ikey,” she said, “what have you done with that dime?”
“Ma,” said Ikey, “I had to have that dime myself.”
“Now, Ikey, tell your mother the truth; are you going with a woman?”
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