"Who ever heard of such a thing! Who is going to think of eating to-day!" is Mendele's sudden exclamation.
The children sit up in alarm.
"This is a fast-day!" continues Mendele with a stern face.
Several minutes elapse before the children take in what has been said to them.
"What sort of fast is it?" they inquire tearfully.
And Mendele with downcast eyes tells them that in the morning, during the Reading of the Law, the Scroll fell from the desk. "Whereupon," he continues, "a fast was proclaimed, in which even sucking-children are to take part." The children are silent, and he goes on to say:
"A fast like that on the Day of Atonement, beginning overnight."
The four children tumble out of bed; bare-footed, in their little ragged shirts, they begin to caper round the room, shouting: "We are going to fast, to fast, to fast!"
Mendele screens the light with his shoulders, so that they shall not see their mother's tears:
"There, that will do, children, that will do! Fast-days were not meant for dancing. When the Rejoicing of the Law comes, then we will dance, please God!" The children get back into bed. Their hunger is forgotten.