Nay, not to swear by, but to grip.

Long shalt thou live, and the Most High shall prepare thy seat in Gan Iden." So the old man and the young clasped hands across the corpse, and the simple old Rabbi perceived a smile flickering over the face of Chayah's father.

Perhaps it was only a sudden glint of sunshine.
The wedding-day drew nigh, but lo! Chayah was again dissolved in tears.
"What ails thee ?" said her brother Naphtali.
"I cannot follow the custom of the maidens," wept Chayah.

"Thou knowest we are blood-poor, and I have not the wherewithal to buy my Bear a _Talith_ for his wedding-day; nay, not even to make him a _Talith_-bag.
And when our father (the memory of the righteous for a blessing) was alive, I had dreamed of making my _chosan_ a beautiful velvet satchel lined with silk, and I would have embroidered his initials thereon in gold, and sewn him beautiful white corpse-clothes.

Perchance he will rely upon me for his wedding _Talith_, and we shall be shamed in the sight of the congregation." "Nay, dry thine eyes, my sister," said Naphtali.