A WALK PROPOSED.

9

memory to permit her to eat. Her father, seeing her sad, asked, jokingly, if Rabbi Isaac had been cross, or if she had lost her favourite pigeon? Unseasonable as was this raillery, she bore it with temper; and at length, her spirits returning to their natural buoyancy, she opened the piano, and sang to her father his favourite song. Seeing his daughter more cheerful, he proposed a walk, the circumstances of which shall be related in the following Chapter.

CHAPTER II.

THE GERMAN FISHWOMAN.

"Boh!" quoth the German, "aint I 'pon de veel;
Do you think my nerfs, and blood, and bones, can't feel?"
"Sir," quoth the beau, " don't, don't be in a passion,
I've naught to say about your situation;

But making such a hideous noise in France,
Fellow, is contrary to bienséance."-PINDAR.

It was not long before Judith and her father met with an incident which completely aroused the laughing propensity of the daughter. Meeting with a stout red-faced Billingsgate fishwoman, who was a foreigner, and, like Judith's father, had but little knowledge of the English tongue or manners, and whose choler, like his, was easily aroused, he accosted her, with "Vot, you sell de fish for de money?"—"Vot, you vant me to sell you de fish mitout de gald?"*"No! no! me give you de l'argent."-" Vot, you make de fun from me?" -"You English divel!”- "You call me de English, and make de fun from me?"-"Go to de divel yourself, you fat ding, and take your fish mit you!"-On which she gave him a slap on

*German for money.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SABBATH.

11

the face; and he, being exasperated, caught up a fish and beat it about her head. Many of the by-standers attempted to interfere and reconcile them, but in vain. None could convince them of their mutual mistake; nor was it till after the woman was given in charge of a constable, that she could be persuaded she had not been jested with. After peace was restored, a coach was called, which conveyed Judith and her father home, where the adventure was told with much glee.

The evening prayers being said, and it being late, after bending her head to her father and mother, to receive the nightly blessing,* Judith retired to bed, light-hearted and happy.

The next morning was Friday; on the evening of which the Sabbath (b) commences; and the requisite preparations were to be attended to: the seven-lighted lamp was to be trimmed; the cholèrs (or Sabbath bread) was to be got ready; and food prepared, sufficient to last till the setting sun of the following day: no fire must be touched, nor anything done in the shape of work; for it is the SABBATH. Indeed, the Jews strive by every means to render this day holy.

* It is a custom with Jews, night and morning, to receive the blessing of their parents-this is termed brocher.

Judith slept sweetly, and arose in the morning gay and merry as the lark, to glad the hearts of her parents. "Good morrow, Judith," said her friend Ellen, as she opened her bedroom door, early in the morning. "How! Asleep still! Come, get up, I have much to tell you. Dress yourself, and we will walk into the garden." Judith hastened her toilet duties, and the two friends opened their hearts freely. "Tell me, dear Judith, do you intend to forsake the faith of your fathers; and does not our holy religion weigh truly in your bosom? What are these rumours: that you have a Christian lover? Is it so, that my fair Judith will indeed refuse the hand of her rich cousin, to bestow it upon a Christian? Oh, Judith! you answer not! Tell me, I beg, why is it that lately you have neither been to Shuel,* nor been so attentive to Rabbi Isaac as you ought? He complains bitterly, that, although you pretend, or strive, to learn Hebrew, your heart is far from the book of Moses."-"Ellen," said Judith, calmly, "wait, and you shall know all my heart! At present, I cannot venture to express my feelings; suffice it to say, that, unless they greatly alter, I never can marry my cousin, nor any but ONE,-who must be nameless. I am too much

*Synagogue.-See also Note (c).

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13

bewildered in my brother's intended marriage, to think on any other subject!"—" Really," said Ellen, "I think I should like to be a bride, to be dressed so richly! But will you give me, my dear Judith, a description of the wedding ceremony, after it has taken place?"-" Yes, surely, dear Ellen; and, if I can, I will shew you the presents." "What a good thing it is, that there are such good regulations to be observed in our religion! For no one is expected to attend, unless, on the day before the marriage, they send a handsome present! Well may Christians say, we are a money loving race!"-" I do not know, but most people love the good things of this world! It is nearly breakfast time, so adieu, dear Ellen; when next we meet, expect to hear about the ceremonies we Jewesses have to go through on our wedding day!"

It was, as before observed, Friday; the meat had to be made chocher, (d)—that is, purified, before being dressed: first, it had to remain three hours on a board, pierced with many holes, to allow the blood gradually to run from it, then to be placed in water; and afterwards to be three times separately rinsed, before it was fit for use. She had also to superintend the care of the company, who always call to made arrangements for eards in the evening, after the Sabbath is out, (e)