Joseph's Escape from the Heder

The destiny of Mary's brother, freed from a nightmare of Hebrew rote learning to become an American boy and community leader.

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The Whipped Truant

The Whipped Truant The Nightmare of Heder Joseph was sent to heder at five and hated every hour. His father used the strap to hasten the truant's steps. The Book He Did Not Hate At ten he entered a modern school and proved that he hated the blindness of the heder, not books. The Broken Boy The horror of the Pale had made his childhood a nightmare. He needed intelligent guidance to wake.

The American Schoolboy

The American Schoolboy The Cherubic Recruit Joseph stood straight and uncringing before Miss Nixon, his cap doffed, remembering former teachers who taught with the rod. Quick Progress He surprised his father by his progress under intelligent, sympathetic guidance. American boys envied his reputation. The Proof of Method His success proved the difference between the right and wrong way of teaching. He was being reborn.

The Newspaper Seller

The Newspaper Seller The Steady Income Joseph sold newspapers after school, providing the family's only reliable source of money. He was still a boy carrying a heavy responsibility. The American Breadwinner His earnings helped pay rent and buy soup bones. He was learning the immigrant's lesson of solidarity. The Undiscouraged Student His school career continued to prosper even while he worked. He was part of the family's forward march.

The Debating Club Founder

The Debating Club Founder The First Meeting Joseph started a debating club in the empty parlor on Dover Street to settle the problems of the Republic. Babies broke up the session. The Shelters Hunted The club moved to Isaac's parlor, then Harry's, where Jake mocked the young politicians. At last Hale House welcomed them. The Growth into Men From a little club it grew into a big club, and the boys won prizes in public debates. The slum child had found his kingdom.

The Young Citizen

The Young Citizen The Escape from the Corner The debating club was one of the islands of safety in the perilous torrent of tenement life. Joseph and his chums drifted toward their salvation. The American Manhood He was learning the language of democracy, parliamentary order, and public speech. The boy who had been whipped in heder was becoming a citizen. The Promise Fulfilled His story showed what the American school and settlement could do for the children of the Pale.

Joseph's boyhood in Polotzk

the first years in Chelsea

the Wheeler and Dover Street years

after the family settled on Dover Street

the Hale House years