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 322 PINSKI

heart and brain, he would like to find a something to catch hold of, a proof of the vanity and emptiness of their teaching, to invent some hard question, and stick out a long red tongue at them all those nowadays bar- barians, those nowadays Newtons.

"After all, it's mere child's play," he reflects. "It's ridiculous to take their nonsense to heart."

"Only their proofs, their proofs!" and the feeling of helplessness comes over him once more.

"Ma !" He pulls himself together. "Is it all over with us? Is it all up?! All up?! The earth revolves! Gammon! As to their explanations >very wonderful, to be sure ! 0, of course, it's all of the greatest impor- tance ! Dear me, yes !"

He is very angry, tears the buttons off his coat, puts his hat straight on his head, and ^ spits.

"Apostates, nothing but apostates nowadays," he concludes. Then he remembers the teacher with what enthusiasm he spoke !

His explanations ring in Reb Shloimeh's head, and prove things, and once more the old gentleman is perplexed.

Preoccupied, cross, with groans and sighs, he went to bed. But he was restless all night, turning from one side to the other, and groaning. His old wife tried to cheer him.

"Such weather as it is to-day," she said, and coughed. "I have a pain in the side, too."

Next morning when the teacher came, Reb Shloimeh inquired with a displeased expression :

"Well, are you going to tell stories again to-day ?"