To conclude: I have frequently, in this preface, used the words "was" and "were," because I do not know what kaleidoscopic changes may not have taken place in Russo-Jewish life since these tales were written.

But they are all, with exception of the legend "The Image," tales of the middle or the end of the nineteenth century, and chiefly the latter.

HELENA FRANK

January, 1906

CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE[5]
[I].IF NOT HIGHER[13]
[II].DOMESTIC HAPPINESS[21]
[III].IN THE POST-CHAISE[29]
[IV].THE NEW TUNE[53]
[V].MARRIED[59]
[VI].THE SEVENTH CANDLE OF BLESSING[89]
[VII].THE WIDOW[95]
[VIII].THE MESSENGER[101]
[IX].WHAT IS THE SOUL?[117]
[X].IN TIME OF PESTILENCE[135]
[XI].BONTZYE SHWEIG[171]
[XII].THE DEAD TOWN[185]
[XIII].THE DAYS OF THE MESSIAH [201]
[XIV].KABBALISTS[213]
[XV]. TRAVEL-PICTURES
PREFACE[223]
TRUST[224]
ONLY GO![226]
WHAT SHOULD A JEWESS NEED? [229]
NO. 42[231]
THE MASKIL[237]
THE RABBI OF TISHEWITZ[241]
TALES THAT ARE TOLD[245]
A LITTLE BOY[256]
THE YARTSEFF RABBI[259]
LYASHTZOF[265]
THE FIRST ATTEMPT[266]
THE SECOND ATTEMPT[271]
AT THE SHOCHET'S[272]
THE REBBITZIN OF SKUL[276]
INSURED[280]
THE FIRE[284]
THE EMIGRANT[289]
THE MADMAN[291]
MISERY[294]
THE LÀMED WÒFNIK[295]
THE INFORMER[299]
[XVI].THE OUTCAST[307]
[XVII].A CHAT[313]
[XVIII].THE PIKE[321]
[XIX].THE FAST[329]
[XX].THE WOMAN MISTRESS HANNAH[337]
[XXI].IN THE POND[385]
[XXII].THE CHANUKAH LIGHT[391]
[XXIII].THE POOR LITTLE BOY[401]
[XXIV].UNDERGROUND[417]
[XXV].BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS[429]
[XXVI].THE IMAGE[449]
[GLOSSARY][453]