THEODORE ROOSEVELT HYMAN
13
But no one thought of that in the Hyman's household or in any other
household. Gallant little Cuba was freed, for a moment. And providence
had chosen to reward chivalrous America with Empire in the Caribbean
and in the South Seas. Let Americans sing and jubilate in the time of joy
and of increase.
The child that had so tormented Sarah on the voyage across the
Atlantic came forth with easy labor.
It was a boy. There were many
relatives and neighbors to welcome him.
He gave his own, unseemly
salute to the world.
Isaac and Samuel, kept by a door and the backs of
many elders from the scene of the delivery, were told that it was a boy
and they would have a fine party, a
brith,
with raisins and almonds to eat,
and wine to drink. Then, they waited for a lull to hear the voice of their
brother, and they heard a strong cry that, for a long time, would be their
brother to them, in only one of numerous forms of burden and nuisance.
And they heard the elders congratulate their father.
"A father of many
sons," they said admiringly.
Morris himself broke from out the ring of adults, and came rather
shyly to Samuel and Isaac, caressed them, and said, "Children,
rejoice
you have a brother," and seeing that their father was weeping with joy,
they wept.
Morris turned around, covered his head and muttered a formula of
thanksgi ving.
The guests laughed.
Nervous Joe broke out of the crowd behind
Morris wiping away as if he were trying to wipe the twitches from his
face. He had a brandy bottle in his hand, took a gulp, staggered around
and clapped the nearest back:.
"Neighbor, I am another unde," he shouted.
111en stamping over
to Samuel and Isaac, he surveyed them proudly, his empire of nephews.
"Nu, so I am another uncle," and bent down, took them up in his skinny
arms, against his skinny breast.
He splashed wet, lavish kisses on their
cheeks.
Harry, the ironist, taking a stand nearby shouted derisively after him.
"Nu, so he's another uncle of what-of
nephews who'll spit in his face
when they grow up and tell him, get out of here, greenhorn
I"~
But no one listened to Harry now, laughed or got angry.
He tried
again. "Why don't they welcome the tom-cat on the back fence who will
destroy their sleep even better,"-but
was again unheard.
"What are they so gay about. They should weep for the brat. Some
day the government will make a rough-rider out of him, too, put him on
a horse where the bullets can find him easily."
This Rebecca heard and she flashed him a look of indignant anger.
