The Rabbi of Worms. M. K. Hammond

from the cold, and his feet felt the same, though he couldn’t actually see their color through the thin leather shoes he wore. Listening to them crunch on the frozen snow, he wished the soles were thicker.

      Adding to the sense of chill was his destination; he was on his way to study with Father Matthias. He had already attended lessons with the young priest almost every afternoon for three weeks, and that was enough to convince him he’d had enough. Latin was all right as a language; in fact it was easier than Hebrew. But Father Matthias was so different from Mosche as a teacher, or from Father Albert. He didn’t seem to love the language or enjoy the interchange between teacher and student. Josef was supposed to study with him for three years!

      Two other boys had begun their study of Latin at the same time. Michel, the rosy-cheeked son of a butcher, looked healthy and well-fed. The other boy, Stefan, was pale and sickly. His father was a member of the lesser nobility, though Stefan’s clothes were as shabby as Josef’s. Josef thought the other two boys rather dull-witted. During the first lessons, neither had been able to repeat the words Father Matthias pronounced. Only Josef had recited them in perfect order. Instead of seeming pleased, Father Matthias had frowned and made a sour comment. “One would think you had studied this before,” he said, looking suspiciously at Josef.

      “No, sir. But I like the sound of it in my ears.”

      “You needn’t offer your opinion unless I ask for it,” said the priest sharply.

      Josef remained silent after that unless he was specifically asked to speak. Sometimes he couldn’t decide what to say. Should he answer questions correctly or pretend he didn’t know the answer, so he wouldn’t seem too smart? Coming to no quick decision, he often became tongue-tied, and this caused Father Matthias to tap his wand on the desk. As difficult as the situation was for Josef, he felt it was worse for the other two boys, who, most of the time, did not know the answers.