Early American Jewry

The Jews of Pennsylvania and South. 1655-1790. By Jacob Rader Marcus

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He had a line of news or a tidbit of gossip for almost everyone in the family. He hoped that mammy’s stock would increase—evidently mother had some cows and calves of her own which father had picked out of the cowpen for her. Mother had better watch her chestnut tree, for Perla, Benny, and Moses, the younger fry, are “great snookers [thieves].” “Tell Perla people is here balloon mad; tell Moses I shall bring when I come home a glister (enema) pipe.” (Moses was destined to be the doctor in the family.) And as for father—“Honor’d Sir”—let him beware of a load of dry goods consigned to Uncle Levi at Savannah. They may be offered on credit, but don’t touch them. I suspect there’s some swindle here. They probably belong to Mr. DeLyon. Watch him. “Old DeLyon has a sweet mouth and will, I know, try to come over you.”