230 SEVENTEENTH EVENING.

the air, and continually spinning round, and that 1s
the cause why the sun and stars seem to rise and set.
At noon we have the sun over our heads, when the
antipodes have the stars over theirs; and at midnight
the stars are over our heads, and the sun over theirs.
So whither should they fall to more than we ?—to the
stars or the sun.

ZL. But we are up, and they are down.

P. What is up, but from the carth and towards the
sky? Their feet touch the earth and their heads
point to the sky, as well as ours; and we are under

their feet, as much as they are under ours. If a hole
' were dug quite through the earth, what would you see
through it ?

L. Sky, with the sun or the stars; and now I see
the whole matter plainly. But pray what supports
the earth in the air ?

P,. Why, whither should 1¢ go?

L£. 1 don’t know—I suppose towards the point
where there might be most to draw it. I have heard
that the sun is a great many times bigger than the
earth. Would‘it not go to that? |

P. You have thought very justly on the matter, I
perceive. But I shall take another opportunity of
showing you how this is, and why the earth does not
fall into the sun, of which, I confess, there seems to be
some danger. Meanwhile, think how far the falling of
an apple has carried us. |

LL To the antipodes, and I know not whither.

P, You may see thence what use may be made of
the commonest fact by a thinking mind.

 

NATURE AND EDUCATION.
A fable.

Nature and Education were one day walking
together through a nursery of trees. “See,” says Na-
ture, “how straight and fine those firs grow—that is
my doing! But, as to those oaks, they are all crooked