the mud-puddle, and woman out of tears. Father used to scold her
mightily, but she did not mind it; and she never ceased bemoaning
Dovidl and crying unto Heaven, "who gave the Angel of Death power
over him."

On the night after Sabbath, when father had extinguished the taper
in the dregs of the Havdolah cup, he turned to mother, and said:
"Now man born of woman is unwise all his life long. He knows not
how to thank for the sorrows that have been sweetened by His mercy,
blessed be He!"

Mother did not understand, and looked at father questioningly. "The
Catcher is in town," explained father.

"The Catcher!" shuddered mother.

"But he takes only Fourths and upwards," said father, reassuringly.

Fourths, Fifths, etc., those households were called which had four,
or five, or more sons.

"And our household has only three sons at present," continued
father. "Do you understand, woman? Three sons were left to us, and
our household is exempt from military duty. Now do you see the
mercy of the Lord, blessed be He? Do you still murmur against Him,
blessed be He?"--

So it was in those days. Every Jewish community had to deliver a
certain fixed number of recruits to the Government annually. This
number was apportioned among the families, and every family taxed