41
XLV
CHRISTMASagain.Butthisyeartherewasmoneyforpresentsandlotsoffoodintheicebox
andtheflatwasalwayswarmnow.WhenFranciecameinoffthecoldstreetshethoughtthat
thewarmthwaslikealover'sarmsaroundherdrawingherintotheroom.Shewondered,
incidentally,exactlywhatalover'sarmsfeltlike.
Francietookcomfortoutofnotreturningtoschoolintherealizationthatthemoneysheearned
madelifeeasierforthem.Mamahadbeenveryfair.WhenFranciewasraisedtotwentydollars
aweek,mamagaveherfivedollarsaweekforherselftopayforhercarfare,lunches,and
clothes.Also,KatiedepositedfivedollarseachweekinFrancie'snameintheWilliamsburg
SavingsBank-forcollege,sheexplained.Katiemanagedwellontheremainingtendollarsand
adollarthatNeeleycontributed.Itwasn'tafortune,butthingswerecheapin1916andthe
Nolansgotalongfine.
Neeleyhadtakentoschoolcheerfullywhenhefoundthatmanyofhisoldgangwereentering
EasternDistrictHigh.Hehadhisoldafter-schooljobbackatMcGarrity'sandmamagavehim
oneofthetwodollarsforpocketmoney.Hewassomebodyinschool.Hehadmorespending
moneythanmostboysandheknew
JuliusCaesar
backwards,forwards,andupside-down.
Whentheyopenedthetin-canbank,therewasnearlyfourdollarsinit.Neeleyaddedanother
dollar,andFrancie,five,andtheyhadtendollarstospendforChristmaspresents.Thethreeof
themwentshoppingtheafternoonbeforeChristmas,takingLauriewiththem.
Firsttheywenttobuymamaanewhat.Inthehatstoretheystoodbehindmama'schairwhile
sheheldthebabyinherlapandtriedonhats.Franciewantedhertohaveajade-greenvelvet
onebuttherewasn'tahatofthatcolortobefoundinWilliamsburg.Mamathoughtsheoughtto
getablackhat.
"Werebuyingthehat,notyou,"Francietoldher,"andwesay,nomoremourninghats."
"Tryonthisredon,Mama,"suggestedNeeley.
"No.I'lltryonthatverydarkgreenoneinthewindow."
"It'sanewshade,"saidthewomanproprietor,gettingitoutofthewindow."Wecallitmoss
green."ShesetitstraightonKatie'sbrow.Withanimpatientflickofherhand,Katietiltedthehat
overoneeye.
"That'sit!"declaredNeeley.
"Mama,youlookbeautiful,"wasFrancie'sverdict.
"Ilikeit,"decidedmama."Howmuch?"sheaskedthewoman.Thewomandrewalongbreath
andtheNolansgirdedthemselvesforbargaining.
"It'slikethis..."beganthewoman.
"Howmuch?"repeatedKatieinflexibly.
"InNewYork,tendollarswouldyoupayforthesamemerchandise.But...."
"IfIwantedtopaytendollars,I'dgotoNewYorkforahat."
"Isthatawaytotalk?Exactcopy,samehatinWanamaker'sisseven-fifty."Pregnantpause.
"I'mgoingtogiveyouidenticalhatforfivedollars."
41
"Ihaveexactlytwodollarstospendonahat."
"Getoutfrommystore!"shoutedthewomandramatically.
"Allright."Katiegatheredupthebabyandgottoherfeet.
"Youmustbesohasty?"Thewomanpushedherbackintothechair.Shethrustthehatintoa
paperbag."I'mlettingyoutakeithomeforfour-fifty.Believeme,myownmother-in-law
shouldn'thaveitforthatprice!"
"Ibelieveyou,"thoughtKatie,"especiallyifshe'slikemymother-in-law."Aloudshesaid:The
hat'snicebutIcanonlyaffordtwodollars.TherearelotsofotherhatstoresandIoughttoget
oneforthat-notasgoodasthisonebutgoodenoughtokeepthewindoffmyhead."
"Iwantyoushouldlisten."Thewomanmadehervoicedeepandsincere."Theysaythatby the
Jews,moneyiseverything.Bymeisdifferent.WhenIgotaprettyhatanditgoeswithapretty
customer,somethinghappenstomehere."Sheputherhandonherheart."Igetso...profitsis
nothing.Igivefree."ShepushedthebagintoKatie'shand."Takethehatforfourdollars.That's
whatitcostmewholesale."Shesighed."Believeme,abusinesswomanIshouldn'tbe.BetterI
shouldbeapicturepainter."
Andthebargainingwenton.Katieknewwhenthepricefinallyreachedtwo-fiftythewoman
wouldn'tgolower.Shetestedherby pretendingshewasleaving.Butthistimethewoman
madenoattempttostopher.FrancienoddedtoNeeley.Hegavethewomantwodollars.and
fiftycents.
"Youshouldn'ttellnobodyhowcheapyougotit,"warnedthewoman.
"Wewon't,"promisedFrancie."Putthehatinabox."
"Tencentsextraisabox-whatitcostsmewholesale."
"Abag'sgoodenough,"protestedKatie.
"ThisisyourChristmaspresent,"saidFrancie,"anditgoesinabox."
Neeleygotoutanotherdime.Thehatwaswrappedintissueandputinabox."Igiveittoyouso
cheap,youshouldcomebacknexttimeyoubuyahat.Butdon'texpectsuchbargainsnext
time."Katielaughed.Astheyleft,thewomansaid,"Wearitingoodhealth."
"Thankyou."
Asthedoorclosedonthem,thewomanwhisperedbitterly,
"Goyem!"
andspatafterthem.
OnthestreetNeeleysaid,"Nowondermamawaitsfiveyearstobuyanewhatifit'sallthat
trouble."
"Trouble?"saidFrancie."Why,that'sfun!"
NexttheywenttoSeigler'stobuyasweatersuitforLaurie'sChristmas.WhenSeiglersaw
Francie,heletlooseafloodofabuse.
"So!Atlastyoucomeinminestore!Issomethingmaybe,otherdry-goodsstoresain'tgotand
youcomebyme?Maybeby otherstoreisdickypennycheaperbutdamagedstock,no?"He
turnedtoKatieandexplained:"Somanyyearscomesthisgirlbymetobuydickiesandpaper
collarsforthepapa.Nowforawholeyearalready,shedon'tcome."
"Herfatherdiedayearago,"explainedKatie.
42
Mr.Seiglergavehisforeheadamightyblowwiththeflatofhishand."OilBymeissobigthe
mouth,somyfootalwaysgoesin,"heapologized.
"That'sallright,"saidKatiesoothingly.
"It'sthiswayby me:NobodytellsmenothingandIdon'tknowtillnow."
"That'sthewayitalwaysis,"saidKatie.
"Andnow,"heaskedbriskly,gettingdowntobusiness,"whatcanIshowyou?"
"Asweatersuitforasevenmonths'oldbaby."
"Igothereexzactlesize."
Hetookabluewooloutfitfromabox.ButwhentheyheldituptoLaurie,thesweaterreached
onlytohernavelandtheleggingswenttojustbelowherknees.Theymeasuredothersizesand
foundatwo-year-oldsizethatwasjustright.Mr.Seiglerwentintoecstasies.
"I'mindry-goodsbusinesstwentyyears-fifteenonGrandStrittandfiveonGrahamAm-yerand
never
insleben
doIseeasevenmonthssobig."AndtheNolansglowedwithpride.
TherewasnobargainingbecauseSeigler'swasaone-pricestore.Neeleycountedoutthree
dollars.Theyputthesuitonthebabythenandthere.Shelookedcutewiththezitfulcappulled
downoverherears.Thebrightbluecolorbroughtouttherosinessofherskin.You'dthinkshe
understood-thewaysheactedsopleased,flashinghertwo-toothedsmileabout
indiscriminately.
"
AchduLiebschen
,"croonedSeigler,handsclaspedprayerfully,"sheshouldwearitingood
health."Thistimethewishwasnotnullifiedbyhisspittingafterthem.
MamawenthomewiththebabyandhernewhatwhileNeeleyandFranciecontinuedtheir
Christmasshopping.TheyboughtsmallgiftsfortheirFlittmancousinsandsomethingfor
Sissy'sbaby.Thenitwastimefortheirowngifts.
"I'lltellyouwhatIwantandyoucanbuyitforme,"saidNeeley.
"Allright.What?"
"Spats."
"Spats?"Francie'svoicescaledup.
"Pearlgrayones,"hesaidfirmly.
"Ifthat'swhatyouwant..."shebegan,dubiously.
"Mediumsize."
"Howdoyouknowthesize?"
"Iwentinandtriedthemonyesterday."
HegaveFrancieadollarandahalfandsheboughtthespats.Shehadthemanwrapthemina
giftbox.Onthestreet,shepresentedthepackagetoNeeleywhiletheyfrownedsolemnlyat
eachother.
"Frommetoyou.MerryChristmas,"saidFrancie.
"Thankyou,"herepliedformally."Andnow,whatdoyouwant?"
"AblacklacedancesetinthewindowofthatstorenearUnionAvenue."
38
"Isthatladies'stuff?"askedNeeleyuneasily.
"Uh-huh.Twenty-fourwaistand32bust.Twodollars."
"Youbuyit.Idon'tliketoaskforanythinglikethat."
Sheboughtthecoveteddanceset-pantiesandbrassieremadeofscrapsofblacklaceheld
togetherbynarrowblacksatinribbon.Neeleydisapprovedandmutteredanungracious,"You're
welcome,"toherthanks.
TheypassedtheChristmastreecurbmarket."Rememberthetime,"saidNeeley,"whenwelet
themanchuckthebiggesttreeatus?"
"DoI!EverytimeIgetaheadache,it'sintheplacewherethetreehitme."
"Andthewaypapasangwhenhehelpedusgetthetreeupthestairs,"recalledNeeley.
Severaltimesthatday,thenameorthoughtofpapahadcomeup.Andeachtime,Franciehad
feltaflashoftendernessinsteadoftheoldstabofpain."AmIforgettinghim?"shethought."In
timetocome,willitbehardtorememberanythingabouthim?Iguessit'slikeGranmaMary
Rommelysays:'Withtime,passesall.'Thefirstyearwashardbecausewecouldsaylast
'lectionhevoted.LastThanksgivingheatewithus.Butnextyearitwillbetwoyearsagothat
he...andastimepassesitwillbeharderandhardertorememberandkeeptrack."
"Look!"Neeleygrabbedherarmandpointedtoatwo-footfirtreeinawoodentub.
"It'sgrowing!"shecriedout.
"Whatdidyouthink?Theyallhavetogrowinthebeginning."
"Iknow.Stillandallyoualwaysseethemcutoffandgettheideathattheygrowchoppeddown.
Let'sbuyit,Neeley."
"It'sawfullittle."
"Butithasroots."
Whentheybroughtithome,Katieexaminedthetreeandthelinebetweenhereyesdeepened
asshefiguredsomethingout."Yes,"shesaid,"afterChristmaswe'llputitonthefireescape
andseethatitgetssunandwaterand,onceamonth,horsemanure."
"No,Mama,"protestedFrancie."You'renotgoingtoputthathorsemanureoveronus."
Assmallchildren,gatheringhorsemanurehadbeenoneoftheirmostdreadedchores.Granma
MaryRommelykeptarowofscarletgeraniumsonherwindowsillandtheywerestrongand
brightandclear-coloredbecauseonceamontheitherFrancieorNeeleyhadtogooutonthe
streetswithacigarboxandfillitwithtwoneatrowsofmanureballs.Ondelivery,Granmamade
paymentoftwocents.Franciehadbeenashamedtogatherhorsemanure.Onceshehad
protestedtoGranmawhohadanswered:
"Ai,thebloodrunsthininthethirdgeneration.BackinAustria,mygoodbrothersloadedlarge
wagonswiththemanureandtheywerestrongandhonorablemen."
"They'dhavetobe,"Franciehadthought,"toworkwithstufflikethat."
Katiewassaying:"Nowthatweownatree,wehavetotakecareofitandmakeitgrow.You
cangetmanureinthedarkofnightifyou'reashamed."
41
"There'ssofewhorsesnow-mostlyautomobiles.It'shardtoget,"arguedNeeley.
"Goonacobblestonedstreetwhereautosdon'tgoandifthereisn'tanymanure,waitfora
horseandfollowhimuntilthereis."
"Geewhiz,"protestedNeeley,"I'msorryweeverboughttheoldtree."
"What'sthematterwithus,"saidFrancie."Thesearen'toldentimes.We'vegotmoneynow.All
wehavetodoisgivesomeoldkidontheblockanickelandhe'llcollectitforus."
"Yeah,"agreedNeeley,relieved.
"Ishouldthink,"saidmama,"thatyou'dwanttotakecareofyourtreewithyourownhands."
"Thedifferencebetweenrichandpoor,"saidFrancie,isthatthepoordoeverythingwiththeir
ownhandsandtherichhirehandstodothings.We'renotpooranymore.Wecanpaytohave
somethingsdoneforus."
"Iwanttostaypoor,then,"saidKatie,"becauseIliketousemyhands."
Neeley,asalways,becameboredwhenhismotherandsisterbeganoneoftheirfiguring-out
conversations.Tochangethesubject,hesaid,"IbetLaurie'sasbigasthattree."Theyfished
thebabyoutofherbasketandmeasuredheragainstthetree.
"Exzactlethesameheight,"saidFrancie,imitatingMr.Seigler.
"Iwonderwhichwillgrowthefastest?"saidNeeley.
"Neeley,we'veneverhadapuppyorakitten.Solet'smakeapetoutofthetree."
"Aw,atreecan'tbeapet."
"Whycan'tit?Itlivesandbreathes,doesn'tit?We'llgiveitaname.Annie!Thetree'sAnnieand
thebaby'sLaurieandtogether,they'rethesong."
"Youknowwhat?"askedNeeley.
"No.What?"
"You'recrazy.That'swhat."
"Iknowitandisn'titwonderful?TodayIdon'tfeellikeMissNolan,supposedtobeseventeen
andheadreaderofTheModelPressClippingBureau.It'slikeoldentimeswhenIhadtoletyou
carrythejunkmoney.Ifeeljustlikeakid."
"Andyouare,"saidKatie."Akidjustturnedfifteen."
"Yeah?Youwon'tthinksowhenyouseewhatNeeleyboughtmeforChristmas."
"Whatyou
made
mebuyyou,"correctedNeeley.
"Showmamawhatyoumademebuy
you
forChristmas,smarty.Justgoonandshowher,"
urgedFrancie.
Whenheshowedmama,hervoicescaleduplikeFrancie'swhenshesaid,"Spats?"
"Justtokeepmyankleswarm,"explainedNeeley.
Francieshowedherdancesetandmamaletlooseher"Oh,my!"ofastonishment.
"Doyouthinkthat'swhatfastwomenwear?"askedFranciehopefully.
"Iftheydo,I'msuretheyallcomedownwithpneumonia.Nowlet'ssee:What'llwehavefor
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44
supper?"
"Aren'tyougoingto
object?"
Franciewasdisappointedbecausemamawasn'tmakingafuss.
"No.Allwomengothroughablack-lace-drawerstime.Youcametoitearlierthanmostand
you'llgetoveritsooner.Ithinkwe'llheatupthesoupandhavethatandsoupmeatand
potatoes...."
"Mamathinkssheknowseverything,"thoughtFrancieresentfully.
TheyattendedmasstogetherChristmasmorning.Katiewashavingaprayersaidfortherepose
ofJohnny'ssoul.
Shelookedveryprettyinhernewhat.Thebabylookednice,too,inhernewoutfit.Neeley,
wearinghisnewspats,manfullyinsistedoncarryingthebaby.AstheypassedStaggStreet,
someboyshangingoutinfrontofacandystore,hootedatNeeley.Hisfacegotred.Francie
knewtheyweremakingfunofhisspatsandtosavehisfeelings,shepretendedtheyhooted
becausehewascarryingababyandsheofferedtotakeLaurie.Herefusedtheoffer.Heknew
aswellasshedidthattheyweremakingfunofhisspatsandhewasfilledwithbitternessatthe
narrow-mindednessofWilliamsburg.Hedecidedtoputthespatsawayintheboxwhenhegot
homeandnotwearthemagainuntiltheymovedtoamoredecentneighborhood.
Franciewaswearingherlacepantsandfreezing.Wheneveranicywindblewhercoatapart
andwentthroughherthindress,itwasasifshehadnounderwearonatall."Iwish-oh,howI
wishIhadmyflannelbloomerson,"shemourned."Mamawasright.Apersoncouldget
pneumonia.ButIwouldn'tgiveherthesatisfactionoflettingherknow.IguessI'llhavetoput
theselacethingsawayuntilsummer."
Insidethechurch,theypre-emptedawholefrontpewbylayingLauriefulllengthontheseat.
Severallatecomers,inkingtherewasanemptyseat,genuflectedatthepew'sentranceand
preparedtoenter.Whentheysawthebabystretchedoutovertwoplaces,theyscowledfiercely
atKatiewhosatrigidandscowledbacktwiceasfiercely.
FranciethoughtitwasthemostbeautifulchurchinBrooklyn.Itwasmadeofoldgraystoneand
hadtwinspiresthatrosecleanlyintothesky,highabovethetallesttenements.Inside,thehigh
vaultedceilings,narrowdeep-setstained-glasswindowsandelaboratecarvedaltarsmadeita
miniaturecathedral.Franciewasproudofthecenteraltarbecausetheleftsidehadbeen
carvedby GranpaRommelymorethanhalfacenturyagowhen,asayoungfellowlatelycome
fromAustria,hehadbegrudginglygivenhistitheoflabortohisChurch.
Thethriftymanhadgatheredupthebitsofgouged-outwoodandtakenthemhome.Stubbornly
hehadfittedandgluedthescrapstogetherandcarvedoutthreesmallcrucifixesfromthe
blessedwood.Marygaveonetoeachofherdaughters,ontheirweddingdaywithinstructions
thatthecrossesweretobepassedontothefirstdaughterineachsucceedinggeneration.
Katie'scrucifixhunghighonthewalloverthemantelpieceathome.ItwouldbeFrancie'swhen
shemarriedandshewasproudthatithadcomefromthewoodofthatfinealtar.
Todaythealtarwaslovelywithbankedscarletpoinsettiasandfirboughswiththegoldenpoints
oflightedslenderwhitecandlesgleamingamongtheleaves.Thethatched
crèche
wasinside
thealtarrail.Francieknewthatthetinyhand-carvedfiguresofMary,Joseph,thekings,and
45
shepherdsweregroupedabouttheChildinthemangerastheyhadfirstbeengroupeda
hundredyearsagowhentheyhadbeenbroughtoverfromtheoldcountry.
Thepriestentered,followedbythealtarboys.Overhisothervestments,heworeawhitesatin
chasublewithagoldencrossonthefrontandback.Francieknewthatthechasublewas
symbolicoftheseamlessgarment,supposedlywovenbyMary,thattheyhadremovedfrom
ChristbeforetheynailedHimtothecross.ItwassaidthatonCalvary,thesoldiers,notwishing
todividethegarment,hadcastdiceforitwhileJesuswasdying.
Absorbedinherthoughts,Franciemissedthebeginningofthemass.Shepickeditupnow,
followingthefamiliarLatinintranslation.
ToThee,OGod,myGod,Iwillgivepraiseupontheharp.Whyarethousad,mysoul,andwhy
dostthoudisquietme
,chantedthepriestinhisdeeprichvoice.
HopeinGod,forIwillstillgivepraisetoHim
,respondedthealtar-boy.
GlorybetotheFatherandtotheSonandtotheHolyGhost.
Asitwasinthebeginning,isnowandevershallbe,worldwithoutend,Amen
,camethe
response.
IwillgountothealtarofGod
,chantedthepriest.
ToGod,Whogivethjoytomyyouth
,cametheresponse.
OurhelpisinthenameoftheLord.
WhomadeHeavenandearth.
Thepriestbowedandrecitedthe
Confiteor.
FranciebelievedwithallherheartthatthealtarwasCalvaryandthatagainJesuswasoffered
upasasacrifice.Asshelistenedtotheconsecrations,oneforHisBodyandoneforHisBlood,
shebelievedthatthewordsofthepriestwereaswordwhichmysticallyseparatedtheBlood
fromtheBody.Andsheknew,withoutknowinghowtoexplainwhy,thatJesuswasentirely
present,Body,Blood,Soul,andDivinityinthewineinthegoldenchaliceandinthebreadon
thegoldenplate.
"It'sabeautifulreligion,"shemused,"andIwishIunderstooditmore.No.Idon'twantto
understanditall.It'sbeautifulbecauseit'salwaysamystery,likeGodHimselfisamystery.
SometimesIsayIdon'tbelieveinGod.ButIonlysaythatwhenI'mmadatHim...BecauseIdo!
Ido!IbelieveinGodandJesusandMary.I'mabadCatholicbecauseImissmassoncein
awhileandIgrumblewhen,atconfession,IgetaheavypenanceforsomethingIcouldn'thelp
doing.Butgoodorbad,I
am
aCatholicandI'llneverbeanythingelse.
"Ofcourse,Ididn'tasktobebornaCatholicnomorethanIaskedtobebornanAmerican.But
I'mgladitturnedoutthatI'mboththesethings."
Thepriestascendedthecurvedstepstothepulpit."Yourprayersarerequested,"intonedhis
magnificentvoice,"forthereposeofthesoulofJohnNolan."
"Nolan...Nolan..."sighedtheechoesofthevaultedceiling.
6
Withasoundlikeananguishedwhisper,nearlyathousandpeopleknelttopraybrieflyforthe
soulofamanonlyadozenofthemhadknown.Franciebegantheprayerforthesoulsin
Purgatory.
GoodJesus,Whoselovingheartwasevertroubledbythesorrowsofothers,lookwithpityon
thesoulofourdearoneinPurgatory.OhYou,WholovedYourown,hearmycryformercy
....
40
XLVI
"INTENmoreminutes,"announcedFrancie,"itwillbe1917."
Francieandherbrotherweresittingsidebysidewiththeirstockingedfeetinsidetheovenofthe
kitchenrange.Mama,whohadgivenstrictorderstobecalledfiveminutesbeforemidnight,was
restingonherbed.
"Ihaveafeeling,"continuedFrancie,"that1917willbemoreimportantthananyyearwe've
everhad."
"Yousaythatabouteveryyear,"claimedNeeley."First,1915wasgoingtobethemost
important.Then1916,andnow,1917."
"It
will
beimportant.Foronething,in1917,I'llbesixteenforrealinsteadofjustintheoffice.
Andotherimportantthingshavestartedalready.Thelandlord'sputtinginwires.Inafewweeks
we'llhave'lectricityinsteadofgas."
"Suitsme."
"Thenhe'sgoingtoripoutthesestovesandputinsteamheat."
"Gee,I'llmissthisoldstove.Rememberhowinoldentimes,"(twoyearsago!)"Iusedtositon
thestove?"
"AndIusedtobeafraidyou'dcatchonfire."
"Ifeellikesittingonthestoverightnow."
"Goahead."Hesatonthesurfacefurthestawayfromthefirebox.Itwaspleasantlywarmbut
nothot."Remember,"Franciewenton,"howwedidourexamplesonthishearthstone,andthe
timepapagotusarealblackboarderaserandthenthestonewasliketheblackboardinschool,
onlylyingdown?"
"Yeah.Thatwasalongtimeago.Butlook!Youcan'tclaim1917'sgoingtobeimportant
becausewe'llhave'lectricityandsteamheat.Otherflatshavehad'emforyears.That'snothing
important."
"Theimportantthingaboutthisyearisthatwe'llget,intothewar."
"When?"
"Soon.Nextweek...nextmonth."
"Howdoyouknow?"
"Ireadthepaperseveryday,brother-twohundredof'em."
"Oh,boy!Ihopeitlasts'tilI'moldenoughtojointhenavy."
"Who'sjoiningthenavy?"Theylookedaround,startled.Mamawasstandinginthebedroom
doorway.
"We'rejusttalking,Mama,"explainedFrancie.
"Youforgottocallme,"saidmama.reproachfully,andIthoughtIheardawhistle.Itmustbe
NewYear'snow."
Franciethrewopenthewindow.Itwasafrostynightwithoutawind.Allwasstill.Acrossthe
yards,thebacksofthehousesweredarkandbrooding.Astheystoodatthewindow,they
30
heardthejoyouspealofachurchbell.Thenotherbellsoundstumbledoverthefirstpealing.
Whistlescamein.Asirenshrieked.Darkenedwindowsbangedopen.Tinhornswereaddedto
thecacophony.Someonefiredoffablankcartridge.Therewereshoutsandcatcalls.
1917!
Thesoundsdiedawayandtheairwasfilledwithwaiting.Someonestartedtosing:
Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot,
Andneverbroughttomind...
TheNolanspickedupthesong.Onebyone,theneighborsjoinedin.Andtheyallsang.Butas
theysangsomethingdisquietingcameamongthem.AgroupofGermansweresingingaround.
TheGermanwordscrowdedinto"AuldLangSyne."
Ja,dasisteinGartenhaus,
Gartenhaus,
Gartenhaus.
Ach,duschoenes,
Ach,duschoenes,
Ach,duschoenesGartenhaus.
Someoneshouted:"Shutup,youlousyheinies!"Inanswer,theGermansongswelledmightily
anddrownedout"AuldLangSyne."
Inretaliation,theIrishshoutedaparodyofthesongacrossthedarkbackyards.
Yeah,dasisaGod-damnedsong,
God-damnedsong,
God-damnedsong.
Oh,dulousy,
Oh,dulousy,
Oh,dulousyheiniesong.
WindowscouldbeheardshuttingastheJewsandItalianswithdrewleavingthefighttothe
GermansandIrish.TheGermanssanglustierandmorevoicescameinuntiltheykilledthe
parodyevenastheyhadkilled"AuldLangSyne."TheGermanswon.Theyfinishedtheir
interminableroundsinshoutingtriumph.
Francieshivered."Idon'tlikeGermans,"shesaid.
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