his views on the
Sabbath question should differ from those of his fellow-worshippers,
but he has not attempted to impress his views on the majority, and he
regrets that in a free country like England they should have imported
the tyranny of the lands of persecution from which they came.
Fortunately such procedure is illegal. By the act of Charles I. the
Sabbath is defined as the Sunday, and as a British subject Mr. Samuels
takes his stand upon the British Constitution. Mr. Samuels has done
his best to compromise with the congregation by attending the Sabbath
service on the day most convenient to the majority. In regard to the
veiled threat of the refusal of burial rights, Mr. Samuels desires me
to say that he has no intention of dying in Sudminster, but merely of
getting his living there. In any case, under his will, his body is to
be deported to Jerusalem, where he has already acquired a
burying-place.'
'Next year in Jerusalem!' cried Barzinsky fervently, when this was
read to the next meeting.
'Order, order,' said the _Parnass_. 'I don't believe in his Jerusalem
grave. They won't admit his dead body.'
'He relies on smuggling in alive,' said Barzinsky gloomily, 'as soon
as he has made his pile.'
'That won't be very long at this rate,' added Ephraim Mendel.
'The sooner the better,' said the _Gabbai_ impatiently. 'Let him go to
Jericho.'
There was a burst of laughter, to the _Gabbai's_ great astonishment.
'Order, order, gentlemen,' said the _Parnass_. 'Don't you see from
this insolent letter how right I was? The rascal threatens to drag us
to the Christian Courts, that's clear. All that about Jerusalem is
only dust thrown into our eyes.'
'Grave-dust,' murmured Straumann.
'Order! He is a dangerous customer.'
'Shopkeeper,' corrected Straumann.
The _Parnass_ glared, but took snuff silently.
'I don't wonder he laughed at us,' said Straumann, encouraged.
'_Bi_-weekly _by_ a member. Ha! ha! ha!'
'Mr. President!' Barzinsky screamed. 'Will you throw that laughing
hyena out, or shall I?'
Straumann froze to a statue of dignity. 'Let any animalcule try it
on,' said he.
'Shut up, you children, I'll chuck you both out,' said Ephraim Mendel
in conciliatory tones. 'The point is--what's to be done now, Mr.
President?'
'Nothing--till the end of the year. When he offers his new
subscription we refuse to take it. That can't be illegal.'
'We ought all to go to him in a friendly deputation,' said Str
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