Page 49 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

robe. Between the two beds was a washstand with a
stoneware pitcher and bowl. She had already discov-
ered, to her horror, that the bathroom was a privy
outside the house, and it had no light for night visits.
"You will wear the dress I wore as a child for Shmuel's
Bar Mitzvah. He was so handsome—and so nervous.
Just like today. It is too bad that your wonderful clothes
from Lublin had to be burned along with your bedding,
but the doctors said they carried the disease. As you
arrived just two days ago, there was no time to make
you anything else. But do not worry, Chaya, I will make
you new clothes before winter comes."
While Hannah stood in the center of the room, won-
dering which chest she should try first, Gitl went to the
standing wardrobe, opened it, and pulled out a dark
blue sailor-suit dress with white piping at the sleeves
and neck, and a blue sash belt. It was the ugliest thing
Hannah had ever seen. And babyish.
"Lovely," Gitl said. "Nicer than anything any of the
girls in our shtetl or Fayge's have. AH the other girls
will be jealous."
"Jealous? Of that?" Hannah was momentarily
speechless, then muttered under her breath, "It's a rag,
a shmatte."
Gitl made a sound of disgust. "In Lublin it may be
a shmatte: But here it is fit for a princess. Even Fayge
in her wedding dress will not be as beautiful. Now,
young lady, no more nonsense. Perhaps we have been
babying you too long, Miss I-know-what-a-wedding-night-
is"
Hannah's face must have shown its instant apology

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