\ 



cleansed the sacred candlesticks, prepared the table for meals, 

 and did all the house-work necessary to the comfort of the 

 orthodox Rabbi and his daughter, but forbidden them by 

 authority of the Hebrew fathers. 



Not content with this extravagant tale, rumor noised 

 abroad further details of the experience of the Bohemian 

 wizard with his home-made servant. The dwarf, though 

 requiring no nourishment, grew in size gradually, becoming 

 a huge giant bigger than Goliath and stronger than Samson; 

 such superhuman strength did he possess that he snapped 

 trunks of trees like wheat-straws, and lifted enormous weights 

 as easily as a child raises a loaf of bread. One Friday even- 

 ing as the pious Rabbi was about to offer thanks for the 

 supper spread upon the table, the giant presuming on his 

 strength dared to resist the will of his gentle and yet power- 

 ful master and refused to obey the order to polish the brass 

 candlesticks; he forgot himself so far as to threaten the 

 Hebrew sage and proposed to crush him between two of his 

 artificial fingers like an unconscious egg, unless he was per- 

 mitted to sit at the table and to share in the evening meal. 

 Being stoutly refused, the giant then broke into a great rage 

 and threatened to destroy every movable thing in the entire 

 house; thereupon his master spoke to him as follows : "You 

 seem to have forgotten that notwithstanding your immense 

 strength of arm you are but a miserable lump of clay which 

 shall retain life and power only so long as you obey my 

 wishes and serve me faithfully; since in your silly bravado 

 you dare to oppose your will to mine, I will show you that 

 the weakling Bezalel Loew is nevertheless stronger than an 

 unthankful, senseless lump of clay ; kneel and humbly beg my 

 pardon!" 



The giant, however, broke into a demoniacal laugh so 



1 boisterous that the windows of the apartment were shattered. 



158 



