Page:Yiddish Tales.djvu/348

 344 PINSKI

up all his foolish plans, and understand that God had punished him, and that he would be again as before.

But it soon became known that he clung to his wicked- ness, and people ceased to rejoice.

The Eabbi and his fanatical friends came to see him one day by way of visiting the sick. Eeb Shloimeh felt inclined to ask them if they had come to stare at him as one visited by a miracle, but he refrained, and surveyed them with indifference.

"Well, how are you, Eeb Shloimeh ?" they asked.

"Gentiles!" answered Eeb Shloimeh, almost in spite of himself, and smiled.

The Eabbi and the others became confused.

They sat a little while, couldn't think of anything to say, and got up from their seats. Then they stood a bit, wished him a speedy return to health, and went away, without hearing any answer from Eeb Shloimeh to their "good night."

It was not long before the whole town knew of the visit, and it began to boil like a kettle.

To commit such sin is to play with destiny. Once you are in, there is no getting out! Give the devil a hair, and he'll snatch at the whole beard.

So when Eeb Shloimeh showed himself in the street, they stared at him and shook their heads, as though to say, "Such a man and gone to ruin !"

Eeb Shloimeh saw it, and it cut him to the heart. Indeed, it brought the tears to his eyes, and he began to walk quicker in the direction of the bookbinder's.

At the bookbinder's they received him in friendly fashion, with a hearty "Welcome !" but he fancied that