342 PINSKI
"Good?" whispered Reb Shloimeh, "good, ha? There's a hero for you !" he smiled.
"Never mind," they said cheeringly, "you will get well again, and work, and do many things yet !"
"Well, well, please God !" he answered, and looked away.
And Reb Shloimeh really got better every day. The having lived wisely and the will to live longer saved him.
The first time that he was able to move a hand or lift a foot, a broad, sweet smile spread itself over his face, and a fire kindled in his all but extinguished eyes.
"Good luck to you!" he cried out to those around. He was very cheerful in himself, and began to think once more about doing something or other. "People must be taught, they must be taught, even if the world turn upside down." he thought, and rubbed his hands together with impatience.
"If it's not to be in the Talmud Torah, it must be somewhere else!" And he set to work thinking where it should be. He recalled all the neighbors to his mem- ory, and suddenly grew cheerful.
Not far away there lived a bookbinder, who employed as many as ten workmen. They work sometimes from fifteen to sixteen hours, and have no strength left for study. One must teach them, he thinks. The master is not likely to object. Reb Shloimeh was the making of him, he it was who protected him, introduced him into all the best families, and finally set him on his feet.
