(Silberseid and Chanzi-Ginendel take their chairs and seat themselves near each other.)
Silberseid. (Aside.) I declare! May I know of something evil if ever I know in what language to begin to speak to her! Well, let us try. (To Chanzi-Ginendel, loud.) Et comment vous portez-vous, mademoiselle?
Chanzi-Ginendel. (Smiling.) Hm! Hm! You want to know if I am still a Miss! Yes, believe me, they have been making matches for me without end. The go-betweens have been tearing down the doors of my sister's house. There was one who wanted to take me just as I am. He wanted to dress me up from head to foot, for he is himself very rich, and he does not ask for a nickel of mine; he is only waiting for my sister to give her consent. But I have thought over the matter; I thought there was no hurry yet, that I was not yet an old maid. I am fifteen years this summer. (She thinks.) Seven and nine and nine is fifteen.
Silberseid. (Die ganze Zeit verwundert, bei der Seit.) No, no! A gut Min Franzoesisch! Lā-mir prüwen weiter! (Hōch.) Haben Sie nicht ein Bändchen Saphir?
Chanzi-Ginendel. Wās täug' euch a safirn Bändele? Awade auf a Halstüchel! Wēiss ich, heunt is' der Kolir schōn araus vun der Mode. Heunt trāgt män Havana oder Bismarck. Ich hāb' erst nit lang a Jungermann geschenkt asōns! Willt ihr? Känn ich euch schenken.
A. Goldfaden.
[VIII]VIII. SEMER LE-SSIMCHAS TŌRE
('Ssichas Chulin,' pp. 30-34)
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Lechajim, Brüder, lechajim, lechajim!
Heunt senen mir die Tōre messajim,
Heunt hēben mir sie ān noch a Māl wieder;—
Drum lechajim ulescholem, liebe Brüder!
Seid froehlich un' dankt dem Gott dem lieben
Far die hēilige Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben!
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