c read. I know it--'tis an interesting
story, and if I had not already heard it thirty-three times, I would
willingly listen to it again this year. And it is an important history,
too, for if Abraham had really killed Isaac and not the goat, then there
would be more goats in the world now--and fewer Jews." And then with
mad, merry grimaces, Jaekel began to sing the following song from the
_Agade_:[60]

"A kid, a kid, which my father bought for two pieces of money. A kid!
A kid!

There came a cat which ate the kid, which my father
bought for two pieces of money. A kid!

There came a dog, who bit the cat, who ate the kid, which my father
bought for two pieces of money. A kid!

There came a stick, which beat the dog, who bit the cat, who ate the
kid, which my father bought for two pieces of money. A kid! A kid!

There came a fire, which burnt the stick, which beat the dog, who bit
the cat, who ate the kid, which my father bought for two pieces of money.
A kid! A kid!

There came the water, which quenched the fire, which burnt the stick,
which beat the dog, who bit the cat, who ate the kid, which my father
bought for two pieces of money. A kid! A kid!

There came an ox, who drank the water, which quenched the fire, which
burnt the stick, which beat the dog, who bit the cat, who ate the kid,
which my father bought for two pieces of money. A kid! A kid!

There came the butcher, who slew the ox, who drank the water, which
quenched the fire, which burnt the stick, which beat the dog, who bit the
cat, that ate the kid, which my father bought for two pieces of money.
A kid! A kid!

"Then came the Angel of Death, who slew the butcher, who killed the
ox, who drank the water, which quenched the fire, which burnt the stick,
which beat the dog, who bit the cat, who ate the kid, which my father
bought for two pieces of money. A kid! A kid!"[61]

"Yes, beautiful lady," added the singer, "and the day will come when
the Angel of Death will slay the slayer, and all our blood come over
Edom, for God is a God of vengeance."

But all at once, casting aside with a violent effort the seriousness
into which he had involuntarily fallen, Jaekel plunged again into his mad
buffoonery, and went on in his harsh jester tones, "Don't be afraid,
beautiful lady, Nose Star will not harm you. He is only dangerous to old
Schnapper-Elle. She has fallen in love with his nose--which, faith!
deserve