"And the others?" he inquired feebly, as though he were ashamed of asking. "They were lazy, they wouldn't come," was the reply. "Well, well," he said, in a tone that meant "Well, well, I know, you needn't say any more, but look here, to-morrow!" "Now I am well again," he whispered as the workmen went out. He could scarcely move a limb, but he was very cheerful, looked at every one with a happy smile, and his eyes shone. "Now I am well," he whispered when they had been obliged to put him into bed and cover him up. "Now I am well," he repeated, feeling the while that his head was strangely heavy, his heart faint, and that he was very poorly. Before many minutes he had fallen into a state of unconsciousness. A dreadful, heartbreaking cry recalled him to himself. He opened his eyes. The room was full of people. In many eyes were tears. "Soon, then," he thought, and began to remember something. "What o'clock is it?" he asked of the person who stood beside him. "Five." "They stop work at nine," he whispered to himself, and called one of the teachers to him. "When the workmen come, they are to let them in, do you hear!" he said. The teacher promised. "They will come at nine," added Reb Shloimeh. In a little while he asked to write his will. After writing the will, he undressed and closed his eyes. They thought he had fallen asleep, but Reb Shloimeh was not asleep. He lay and thought, not about his past life, but about the future, the future in which men would live. He thought of what man would come to be. He pictured to himself a bright, glad world, in which all men would be equal in happiness, knowledge, and education, and his dying heart beat a little quicker, while his face expressed joy and contentment. He opened his eyes, and saw beside him a couple of teachers. "And will it really be?" he asked and smiled. "Yes, Reb Shloimeh," they answered, without knowing to what his question referred, for his face told them it was something good. The smile accentuated itself on his lips. Once again he lost himself in thought. He wanted to imagine that happy world, and see with his mind's eye nothing but happy people, educated people, and he succeeded. The picture was not very distinct. He was imagining a great heap of happiness--happiness with a body and soul, and he felt _himself_ so happy. A sound of lamentation disturbed him. "Why do they weep?" he wondered. "Every one will have a good time--everyone!" He opened his eyes; there were already lights burning. The room was packed with people. Beside him stood all his children, come together to take leave of their father. He fixed his gaze on the little grandchildren, a gaze of love and gladness. "_They_ will see the happy time," he thought. He was just going to ask the people to stop lamenting, but at that moment his eye caught the workmen of the evening before.