He turned and fled through an alleyway before she could even open her mouth to scream.

One ordinary wintry day, Mariah found her chance to escape. A man delivering vegetables to the orphanage needed help from a few girls to carry in his crates. Mariah volunteered and went outside with two other volunteers.

As soon as the others were distracted, Mariah jumped into the wagon and hid herself underneath a pile of hay. Half an hour later she heard the wagon driver hop in and hit the horses to start moving.

“I see fingers poking out from underneath the hay… If you’re a thief, I warn you that—”

“I’m no thief! I’m a girl from the orphanage! Please, don’t stop the wagon!”

“Well, now I’ve seen it all...”

The wagon driver stopped the horses and pushed off the hay concealing Mariah.

“Is this your idea of a joke? Listen to me, little girl, I’m not traveling back there, so you’ll have to get off and walk on your own two legs!”

“This is not a joke. I’ve been trying to escape that wretched place for most of my life. Please, I’ll give you some coins from the small coin sack I brought with me. Just don’t force me to go back there!”

“For payment, there’s not much I wouldn’t do. Okay, so where are we going?”

“I— I don’t know… I didn’t really have a chance to think this part out. I don’t have any family waiting for me anywhere, at least not that I know of. Perhaps you know of a family somewhere willing to hire a live-in maid?”

“I don’t. Now I’ll ask you again, where are we going?”

“I suppose you could take me wherever you’re heading. I’ll get off wherever it is.”

“As long as you pay me, it won’t be a problem.”

“I’ll pay you.”

“Good. Next stop, the Jewish ghetto.”

***

The Jewish ghetto did not look like Mariah had imagined. She thought the Chosen Nation would be granted better accommodations, but she was sorely mistaken. The streets were blackened and cluttered, the homes crowded close together and black iron gates sealed the Jews off from the rest of the city.

“This is my last stop of the day, so pay me now and hop off.”

“Here, kindly accept these three coins. It’s half of everything I have, but I am forever indebted to you for not returning me to the orphanage.”

“Alright then. Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Alone and with nowhere to go, Mariah began to explore the Jewish ghetto, her interest growing as she neared what appeared to be a very old synagogue. A few people stared at her curiously, but mostly everyone just hurried past.

She stopped a Jewish man walking past her.

“Excuse me, kind sir. I am looking for work. Perhaps there is someone you know who needs a maid? I am very capable.”

“No, sorry.”

The man shook his head quickly and walked on.

Feeling discouraged, Mariah tried her luck with several more passersby, but no one seemed interested.

“Are you looking for work?”

A tough-looking bald man approached Mariah. Unlike the Jewish men, he had no covering on his head and sported no beard.

“Yes. Do you know if any of the Jewish residents need a maid?”

“Sure, sure...”

The man lurched forward suddenly and snatched the money pouch off of Mariah’s neck. He turned and fled through an alleyway before she could even open her mouth to scream.

That was all the money I had… I have absolutely nothing now!

Mariah burst into tears and she sat at the side of the street, completely broken. Still, no one stopped to talk to her. She did not blame them, either. She looked very suspicious and after living through constant blood libels and other atrocities perpetrated by their Christian neighbors, the Jews were very cautious.

Darkness fell and Mariah was left to spend her first night outside the orphanage outside in the cold. Still, it was better than sleeping surrounded by the oppressive walls of the orphanage and the ever-watchful eye of the lady in black.

***

A Jewish man happened to be passing by later that night and something about Mariah’s anguished expression forced him to stop in his tracks.

“Little girl, why are you here? Go home to your parents.”

“I don’t have any parents. I escaped from an orphanage.”

“The streets are a dangerous place to be at night. Return to the orphanage, then.”

“Never! It is a terrible, horrid place.”

“So you are willing to stay here all alone, surrounded by danger instead of going back?”

“Yes.”

The man sighed.

“Stand up and come with me. I have no room in my house, but you can sleep in the tiny barn I own. It won’t be comfortable, but it will be safer than sleeping out in the open. Follow me.”

“Thank you!”

Mariah jumped up happily and followed the man to his home.

“This is more comfortable than my bed in the orphanage.” Mariah said, patting the bundles of straw the man had put together for her in his barn. “I appreciate your kindness.”

***

The next morning the man and his wife entered the barn and were greeted by a huge surprise. Everything was perfectly cleaned and organized and even the animals looked a little more groomed than usual.

“Do you like what I’ve done?” Mariah’s face was beaming with joy.

“Incredible...” the woman said. “How did you manage to do this?”

“I woke up early. I’m a very hard worker. If you’ll allow me to stay with you, I can help you with the animals and even take care of household chores. Please....”

The man and his wife exchanged a quick glance.

“Okay.”

“My name is Yerachmiel and my wife is Henny. Welcome to your new home for now.”

“My name is Mariah and I promise I won’t let you down.”

“Good, good. And just to be sure, you’re not a fugitive, right? There isn’t anyone looking for you, is there?”

“No, no one at all.”

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., 793)