Y 



CHAPTER LVI 



THE YEAB AND ITS SEASONS 



OU told us," said Claire, "that at the same time 

 the earth turns on its axis it travels round the 



"Yes. It takes three hundred and sixty-five days 

 for that journey ; it makes three hundred and sixty- 

 five pirouettes on its axis in accomplishing a jour- 

 ney round the sun. The time spent in this journey 

 makes just a year." 



"The earth takes one day of twenty-four hours to 

 turn on its axis; one year to turn round the sun," 

 said Jules. 



"That is it. Imagine yourself turning around a 

 circular table the center of which is occupied by a 

 lamp representing the sun, while you represent the 

 earth. Each of your walks around the table is one 

 year. To represent things exactly, you must turn 

 on your heels three hundred and sixty-five times 

 while you circle the table once. ' ' 



"It is as if the earth waltzed around the sun," 

 Emile suggested. 



"The comparison is not so well chosen as it might 

 be, but it is exact. It shows that in spite of the gid- 

 diness of his age Emile has understood perfectly. 

 A year is divided into twelve months which are: 

 January, February, March, April, May, June, July, 



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