320 PINSKI
he begins to tell of even greater wonders. He tells how far the sun is from the earth, how big it is, how many earths could be made out of it and Eeb Shloimeh begins to smile again, and at last can bear it no longer.
"Look here," he exclaimed, "that I cannot and will not listen to! You may tell me the earth revolves well, be it so ! Very well, I'll allow you, that, perhaps, according to reason even the size of the earth the appearance of the earth do you see? all that sort of thing. But the sun ! Who has measured the sun ! Who, I ask you! Have you been on it? A pretty thing to say, upon my word !" Reb Shloimeh grew very excited. The teacher took hold of Eeb Shloimeh's hand, and began to quiet him. He told him by what means the astronomers had discovered all this, that it was no matter of speculation; he explained the telescope to him, and talked of mathematical calculations, which he, Eeb Shloimeh, was not able to understand. Eeb Shloimeh had nothing to answer, but he frowned and remained obstinate. "He" (he said, and made a con- temptuous motion with his hand), "it's nothing to me, not knowing that or being able to understand it! Science, indeed ! Fiddlesticks !"
He relapsed into silence, and went on listening to the teacher's "stories." "We even know," the teacher continued, "what metals are to be found in the sun."
"And suppose I won't believe you?" and Eeb Shloi- meh smiled maliciously.
"I will explain directly," answered the teacher.
"And tell us there's a fair in the sky!" interrupted Eeb Shloimeh, impatiently. He was very angry, but the teacher took no notice of his anger.
