“Besides, if you are not there to watch carefully (for the tins are not named or numbered), someone might take your tins in exchange for his own, if the cakes, etc., look more tempting.  During Purim this is not looked upon as stealing, but merely as a joke or a bit of fun.  The youngsters will not move an inch unless they can trust someone to take their place.  So I leave you to try to imagine the noise and the chatter.  There is probably not a thing that has happened in Jerusalem during the last two months that is not discussed around the public oven while people are waiting for their cake-tins; and, as everyone wants to talk rather than to listen, the noise is like the buzz in a factory.

“After all the cooking and so forth was finished, of course we had to keep the Fast of Esther, and everyone, even babies went to Shule to hear the Megilla (the Book of Esther) read; and, when the Chazan came to Haman, the Gragers went off with just such a noise as they do in the London Shules in Old Montague Street or Booth Street.  Then we went home; and after the evening meal the joyfulness began, for they did not wait till the next day, as we do in England.

“As only one room was lighted up by each family to economize light and for other reasons—­there are no curtains or blinds to draw down—­we were able to go through all Meah Sheorim and stop a minute or two at every lighted window and watch the goings on.  We heard nothing but singing and clapping of hands, while the children danced.  Sometimes one of the elders looking on could not resist joining in the fun, and tied his kaftan behind his back so as to leave his legs free, put one of the youngsters on his shoulders, and danced like a chassid or a jolly Irishman.

“As we went from house to house peeping in at the windows, sometimes some of the family would come out and drag us in by force, and make us drink wine and eat cakes.  If we did not wish to join in the dancing, but wanted to leave, they would just say ’Shalom’—­’go in peace but come again.’  I can tell you it was jolly, and nowhere else in all the world could Yomtov be kept up as it is here.

“We were given wine in so many houses that from the eldest to the youngest we were beginning to feel rather funny.  Next morning, after being well shaken up by Father, and after we had had a wash with cold water in the open air, we made up our minds to be firmer at the next Purim.

“After going in the morning to hear the Chazan again, and coming home and enjoying the Hamantaschen and other good things, then begins the pleasure and excitement of sending Shalach-manoth to friends, acquaintances, and chiefly to the poor, and even to enemies if you have any.  As you are supposed, if possible, to send back to the sender something similar to what is sent to you, things cannot be made ready beforehand.  To the poor you always send useful presents as well as delicacies which are likely to last them for months or longer.