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 EEB SHLOIMEH 321

"Two hundred years ago/' began the teacher, "there lived, in England, a celebrated naturalist and mathema- tician, Isaac Newton. It was told of him that when God said, Let there be light, Newton was born."

"Psh! I should think, very likely!" broke in Eeb Shloimeh. <f Why not?"

The teacher pursued his way, and gave an explanation of spectral analysis. He spoke at some length, and Eeb Shloimeh sat and listened with close attention. "Now do you understand?" asked the teacher, coming to an end.

Eeb Shloimeh made no reply, he only looked up from under his brows.

The teacher went on :

"The earth," he said, "has stood for many years. Their exact number is not known, but calculation brings it to several million "

"E," burst in the old man, "I should like to know what next ! I thought everyone knew that that even they "

"Wait a bit, Eeb Shloimeh," interrupted the teacher, "I will explain directly."

"Ma! It makes me sick to hear you," was the irate reply, and Eeb Shloimeh got up and left the room.

All that day Eeb Shloimeh was in a bad temper, and went about with knitted brows. He was angry with science, with the teacher, with himself, because he must needs have listened to it all.

"Chatter and foolishness ! And there I sit and listen to it !" he said to himself with chagrin. But he remem- bered the "chatter," something begins to weigh on his