Funny how some things sort of stick in your mind although they may be totally insignificant by themselves. One such thing reminds me of a wedding that almost was at auntie Regina's. I'm sure you can all imagine the difficulty in finding a shidduch (making a match) when you lived in the country , as opposed to the city. Most towns had a very, very small community (up to 7 or 8 Jewish families) and many had no children or had grown children all of which just made it more difficult to meet a suitable partner. Those were the days when Jews spoke Yiddish with a heavy accent all being new immigrants, and their English was not , how should I say it very better. Most were storekeepers, some were more successful, some less, all worked hard and sent money home to Europe supporting aging parents, and grandparents as well.
The signs of wealth were not those of today, no lavish homes, yachts, etc. people lived frugally even if they did have money which was quite rare. Cousin Max was rich. He had a few stores in Nova Scotia, and I recall him telling us that one year he got $3,200. Dividends. This signified really heavy investment in the stock market so everyone new he was wealthy. Max had a long gold key chain , which he would twirl around his finger with his keys dangling and ringing out their clang, and you couldn't help but notice it. Max also had a single brother Berl who he was very anxious to see married, but then again as I said t'wasn't easy to find a suitable match.
Now auntie Regina new that Joe Franz of Bathurst had a single sister living in Tracadie, and who would be a likely match for Berl. She suggested the match to Max who immediately began negotiations as to the dowry, and everything seemed just hunky dory. They arranged for the young couple to meet and they seemed to take a liking to each other so in auntie Regina's parlor the deal was concluded, and plans to marry were set in motion.
The young couple seemed oblivious to what was going on around them, and they found the chesterfield (sofa) just wonderful to get to know each other, it wasn't long before a lot of shmoozing, kissing and kvetching was taking place right there in full view of anyone passing thru the parlor.
To make a long story short it was arranged that a certain sum would be given by her family to the choson for a nadan (dowry) and everyone was happy especially Max who looked forward to them taking his brother off his hands. He insisted the dowry be in cash before the wedding knowing full well about matches in Europe which were promised but never honored.
Well the big day arrived and everyone gathered at auntie Regina's, the machatonim came in all their splendor, the young couple were hugging and kissing in the parlor, the kalla's brothers were anxious, but Max was nervous, he kept pacing the floor twirling the key chain round, and round, and muttering under his breath, no cash no wedding, no cash no wedding. It sounded even better in yiddish, but was very embarrasing to auntie Regina who was trying to arrange a compromise.
Can you just picture the scene here you have a young couple making out on the sofa, Max nervously pacing and muttering under his breath, no cash no wedding,, auntie Regina running between the kitchen and the dining room where Max was pacing, and auntie Regina all of a sudden starts to sing "God save the King" to drown out Max's mutterings.
Well needless to say the cash wasn't there so the Tracadie group took their sister home, Max took his brother, and left, and the family went to the dining room to play pinochle. Another exciting Sunday at auntie Regina's.
