ation, but urgent business kept him
elsewhere.

Now it was universally believed in Plotzk that it was wise not to trust
the first isvostchik who offered his services when one arrived in Vilna
a stranger, and I do not know to this day how mother managed to get
away from the mob and how, above all, she dared to trust herself with
her precious baggage to one of them. But I have thought better of Vilna
Isvostchiky since, for we were safely landed after a pretty long drive
in front of my uncle's store, with never one of our number lost, never a
bundle stolen or any mishap whatever.

Our stay in Vilna was marked by nothing of interest. We stayed only long
enough for some necessary papers to reach us, and during that time I
discovered that Vilna was very much like Plotzk, though larger, cleaner
and noisier. There were the same coarse, hoarse-voiced women in the
market, the same kind of storekeepers in the low store doors, forever
struggling and quarrelling for a customer. The only really interesting
things I remember were the horsecars, which I had never even heard of,
and in one of which I had a lovely ride for five copeiky, and a large
book store on the Nemetzka yah Ulitza. The latter object may not seem of
any interest to most people, but I had never seen so many books in one
place before, and I could not help regarding them with longing and
wonder.

At last all was in readiness for our start. This was really the
beginning of our long journey, which I shall endeavor to describe.

I will not give any description of the various places we passed, for we
stopped at few places and always under circumstances which did not
permit of sightseeing. I shall only speak of such things as made a
distinct impression upon my mind, which, it must be remembered, was not
mature enough to be impressed by what older minds were, while on the
contrary it was in just the state to take in many things which others
heeded not.

I do not know the exact date, but I do know that it was at the break of
day on a Sunday and very early in April when we left Vilna. We had not
slept any the night before. Fannie and I spent the long hours in playing
various quiet games and watching the clock. At last the long expected
hour arrived; our train would be due in a short time. All but Fannie and
myself had by this time fallen into a drowse, half sitting, half lying
on some of the many baskets and boxes that stood all about the room all
ready to be taken to the