This unsophisticated, simple-hearted man, with the mind of an
infant, was one of the most quick-witted, nimble-minded scholars
in town.

His great delight was to tackle some intricate maze of Talmudic
reasoning.

This he would do with ferocious zest, like a warrior attacking the
enemy, flashing his tortoise snuff-box as if it were his sword.
When away from his books or when reading some of the fantastic
tales in them he was meek and gentle as a little bird. No sooner
did he come across a fine bit of reasoning than he would impress
me as a lion

On one occasion, after Reb Sender got through a celebrated tangle
with me, arousing my admiration by the ingenuity with which he
discovered discrepancies and by the adroitness with which he
explained them away, he said: "I do enjoy reading with you.
Sometimes, when I read by myself, I feel lonely. Anyhow, I love
to have you around, David. If you went to study somewhere else I
should miss you very much." On another occasion he said: "You
are like a son to me, Davie. Be good, be genuinely pious; for my
sake, if for nothing else. Above all, don't be double-faced; never
say what you do not mean; do not utter words of flattery."

As I now analyze my reminiscences of him I feel that he was a
yearning, lonely man. He was in love with his wife and, in spite of
her devotion to him, he was love-lorn. Poor Reb Sender! He was
anything but a handsome man, while she was well built and pretty.
And so it may be that she showed more reverence for his learning