COUNTKY FOLK 563
moon had floated into view. "Mother will be expect- ing us," he said, and began to walk quickly. Feivke could hardly drag his feet.
On the tall bridge they were met by a cool breeze blowing from the water. Once across the bridge, Mat- tes again quickened his pace. Presently he stopped to look around no Feivke ! He turned back and saw Feivke sitting in the middle of the road. The child was huddled up in a silent, shivering heap. His teeth chattered with cold.
"Feivke, what is the matter? Why are you sitting down? Come along home!"
"I won't" Feivke clattered out with his teeth "I c-a-n-'t "
"Did they hit you so hard, Feivke ?"
Feivke was silent. Then he stretched himself out on the ground, his hands and feet quivering.
"Cold."
"Aren't you well, Feivke?"
The child made an effort, sat up, and looked fixedly at his father, with his black, feverish eyes, and sud- denly he asked:
"Why did you cry there? Tate, why? Tell me, why?!"
"Where did I cry, you little silly ? Why, I just cried it's Yom Kippur. Mother is fasting, too get up, Feivke, and come home. Mother will make you a poul- tice," occurred to him as a happy thought.
"No ! Why did you cry, while they were laughing ?" Feivke insisted, still sitting in the road and shaking' like a leaf. "One mustn't cry when they laugh, one mustn't !"
